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F 


Copyright,  1901, 
By  James  H.  Btakk. 


CONTENTS. 


Aborigines,           ... 

18 

First  Railroads  of  Boston, 

365 

Almshouse  in  Boston,  - 

. 

338 

Fortifications  on  Boston  Neck, 

. 

262 

Frankland  House, 

. 

. 

58 

Beacon  Hill,         - 

. 

"5 

Franklin,  Birthplace  of 

. 

. 

93 

Birthplace  of  General  Knox, 

. 

280 

Fire,  Great  Boston 

. 

. 

378 

"             Benj.  Franklin, 

- 

93 

"     Old  State  House 

- 

. 

374 

Boston  Harbor,  Discovery  of 

- 

9 

"     Department, 

- 

- 

369 

"      First  Authentic  Discovery 

of 

10 

"      Settlement  of    - 

. 

11 

Gage,  General  Thomas 

- 

- 

225 

"      First  Settler  in  - 

. 

J7 

Green,  Samuel,  A.  Letter 

. 

. 

"      Early  Appearance  of 

. 

21 

Green  Dragon  Tavern, 

- 

- 

106 

"      Lincolnshire,  England, 

- 

27 

"      Town  Records, 

. 

31 

Hancock  House, 

- 

. 

no 

"      Views  of  138,162,170,175,196,293 

Harbor,  Boston,  Perspective  View  of 

202 

"      and  its  Environs, 

- 

255 

Harvard,  John,     - 

- 

- 

123 

0      Lighthouse, 

- 

276 

Harvard  University, 

- 

- 

127 

Bostonians  Paying  the  Exciseman, 

195 

Hollis  Street  Church,    - 

- 

- 

325 

Bonner's  Map  of  Boston, 

- 

47 

House  of  Industry  and  House  of 

Brattle  Street  Church,  - 

. 

326 

Correction, 

- 

- 

337 

Bunker  Hill,  Battle  of 

- 

242 

Hutchinson  House, 

- 

- 

53 

"         "     Plan  of  the  Action  at 

255 

Joy  Building, 

• 

- 

116 

Cambridge  Common,    - 

- 

128 

Julien's  Restorator, 

• 

- 

75 

Carwitham  View  of  Boston,  - 

. 

138 

186 

King's  Chapel, 

- 

- 

299 

Charter,  First  Massachusetts 

- 

5° 

Knox,  Birthplace  of 

- 

• 

280 

Christs  Church,     ... 

. 

3'2 

Charles  River  Bridge,  - 

. 

344 

Lamb  Map, 

• 

• 

36 

Common,  View  from  Boston 

. 

180 

Lamb  Tavern, 

. 

• 

76 

College,  Massachusetts  Medical 

- 

352 

Landing  a  Bishop, 

- 

- 

195 

Lexington  and  Concord,  Four  Draw- 

Dalton  Mansion, 

. 

64 

229 

Liberty  Tree, 

- 

• 

212 

Exchange  Coffee  House, 

- 

119 

Lighthouse,  Boston 

- 

- 

276 

Faneuil  Hall,       ... 

. 

100 

Massacre,  State  St., 

. 

. 

207 

Feather  Store,      ... 

. 

70 

Massachusetts  Medical  College, 

352 

Federal  Street  Church, 

. 

3°4 

"           Charter,  First 

• 

5° 

"           "      Cathedral,       - 

. 

329 

Minot  House, 

• 

• 

»57 

"           "      Theatre, 

- 

358 

Mystic  River  Bridge,    - 

• 

• 

343 

First  Massachusetts  Charter, 

- 

5° 

"     Paper  Money, 

- 

137 

New  South  Church,  Church  Green 

316 

"    Church, 

- 

294 

New  England  Primer, 

• 

■ 

99 

CONTENTS. 


Neck,  Fortincations,  on  Boston     -  262 

Neck,  Plan  of  Dorchester      -         -  272 

North  Battery,      -        -        -         -  190 

Nix's  Mate  Island,        ...  185 

Old  Elm, 176 

"    House  in  Prince  Street,          -  69 

"    Feather  Store,        ...  y0 

"    South  Church,        ...  308 

"    Scollay  Building,            -         -  347 

"    Court  House  and  City  Hall,  357 

Perspective  view  of  Boston  Harbor,  202 

Plan  of  Dorchester  Neck,              -  272 

"       the  Action  at  Bunker  Hill,  255 

Province  House,  -         -         -         .  221 

Primer,  New  England  ...  99 

Pierce  House,      ....  158 

Quincy  Market.    ....  362 

Revere  View  of  Boston,         -        -  196 

"       Paul,        -         -         -        -  217 

Riot  in  Broad  Street,    ...  377 

Ruins  of  the  Ursuline  Convent,      -  332 

"         "      Boston  Fire,      -         -  378 

Savin  Hill,  .....  147 


Settlement  of  Boston,  - 
Smith's  Map, 
Small  Pox  Certificate,  - 
South  Battery, 
State  Street  Massacre, 
"    House,  Old, 
"       New 

Fire,  Old 


11 

32 

35 1 
189 
207 
83 
87 
374 


Tavern,  Green  Dragon          -         -  106 

"        Lamb      ....  76 

Triangular  Warehouse,  79 

Tremont  and  Boylston  Streets  in  1800,  293 

Trinity  Church,    -         -         -         -  321 


Vue  de  Boston,    - 


293 


Warren  House,  1775,  ...  256 
Warren's  Birthplace,  ...  256 
Washington,  Triumphal  Arch,  and 

Coilonade,  ....  281 
Washington  Elm,  Cambridge,  -  261 
Winter,  Washington  and  Summer  Streets, 

View  of  -  -  -  -  -  293 
Wood's  Map,        ....  3J 

Winthrop's  Grave,        ...  22 

Worcester  and  Providence  R.  R.  crossing 

the  Marshes  of  Back  Bay  in  1840,     369 


ADDITIONAL  ILLUSTRATIONS    IN   SECOND    EDITION. 

Beacon  Hill,  Plate  1,  from  Mt.  Vernon  Street.  Camp  of  New  England  Guards 

"          "        "     2,  Derne  Street,  with   Mr.  at  Savin  Hill     .... 

Thurston's  House.  Cotton  Mather  House 

"         "        "     3,  from  Bowdoin  Street.  First  Boston  Lighthouse 

"         "        "     4,  from  Mt.  Vernon  Street,  Panoramic  Views  from   Beacon 

near  the  head  of  Han-  Hill 

cock  Street.  Portrait  (Opposite  Introductory). 

"          "        "     5,  from  the  site  of  the  Res-  Ship  Building  in  South  Boston 

ervoir  between  Han-  in  1820 

cock     and      Temple  Stage  Coach          .... 

Streets    .    Op.  p.  115  Tremont    Street    Mall,    looking 

Blake  House        ....  "      145  North 

Boston  with  its  Environs     .        .          "      262  Tremont    Street    Mall,   looking 

South       ..... 


Op.  p. 


148 

96 

276 

225 


334 
365 

IS4 

154 


REFERENCE  TO  SAME  IN   TEXT. 

PAGE  PAGE 

Beacon  Hill  Plates 115  Cotton  Mather  House     ....  96 

Blake  House 145  First  Boston  Lighthouse          .        .        .  279 

Boston  with  its  Environs         .        .        .     255  Panoramic  Views  from  Beacon  Hill       .  222 

Camp  of  New  England  Guards  at  Savin  Ship  Building  in  South  Boston  in  1820  .  331 

Hill 149  Tremont  Street  Mall       ....  154 


Index  to  Illustrations. 


Almshouse,  Leverett  Street 

339 

Colleges  at  Cambridge,  Prospect 

of 

129 

Annie  Pollard,  Portrait 

15 

"           View  of 

131 

Attack  on  Bunker  Hill, 

249 

College,  Massachusetts  Medical 
Concord,  View  of  the  Town  of 

349 
23i 

Battle  of  Lexington,     ... 

227 

Convent,  Ruins  of  the  Ursuline 

333 

Beacon  Hill,  Removal  of      - 

"3 

Court  House  and  City  Hall,  Old 

355 

Birthplace  of  General  Knox, 

280 

"             Benj.  Franklin, 

93 

Dalton  Mansion, 

- 

65 

Blackstone  House,        ... 

'7 

Dorchester  Neck,  Plan  of 

- 

273 

Boston,  View  of,  taken  on  the  road 

"          View  of  the  country  towards  269 

leading  to  Dorchester,           Frontispiece 

Boston,  Lamb's  Map  of 

41 

Engagement  at  the  North  Bridge 

:» 

235 

"       Bonner's  Map  of      - 

45 

Exchange  Coffee  House, 

- 

121 

"       South-East  View  of 

181 

"       Revere  View  of 

203 

Faneuil  Hall, 

. 

IOI 

"       Harbor,  Perspective  View  of 

205 

"      1825,       -         - 

- 

103 

"       and  its  Environs,  Plan  of 

263 

Feather  Store,  South  View 

- 

71 

"       Neck,  Lines  thrown  up  on 

266 

"           ■'      West  View 

. 

73 

"       Neck,  Front  View  of  Lines  on 

267 

Federal  Street  Church, 

- 

3°5 

"       Vue  de     - 

289 

"           "      Cathedral, 

. 

33° 

"       Lincolnshire,  England, 

25 

"           "      Theatre, 

■ 

359 

"       Town  Records, 

29 

First  Interview  with  the  Indians, 

11 

"       from  Willis'  Creek, 

163 

"     Railroad  Advertisement, 

. 

366 

"       from  Dorchester  Neck, 

167 

"     King's  Chapel, 

- 

300 

"       from  Breeds'  Hill,    - 

173 

"     Issue  of  Paper  Money, 

- 

J  39 

"       Lighthouse,      - 

277 

"     Church,        - 

- 

295 

"       Fire,         - 

379 

"     Massachusetts  Charter, 

- 

51 

Bostonians  Paying  the  Exciseman, 

199 

Fire,  Old  State  House 

. 

375 

Bonner's  Map  of  Boston, 

45 

"     Boston, 

- 

379 

Bread  from  the  Pierce  House, 

158 

Fifty  Pound  Note,  1775, 

- 

141 

Brattle  Street  Church, 

327 

Franklin,  Benjamin,  Portrait 

. 

95 

Bunker  Hill,  Plan  of  the  Action  at 

245 

"         Birthplace  of 

- 

93 

"          "     Attack  on 

249 

Front  View  of  Lines  on  Boston  Neck, 

267 

Cambridge  Common  in  1 784, 

135 

Gage,  General  Thomas,  Portrait  1 

3f 

225 

Castle,  The            .... 

187 

Green  Dragon  Tavern, 

- 

107 

Christ  Church,       ...         - 

313 

Green,  Dr.  Samuel,  Autograph  Letter 

4 

Charter,  First  Massachusetts 

51 

Charles  River  Bridge,  -         -         - 

345 

Hancock  House, 

- 

in 

Charlestown,  View  of,  from  Beacon  Hill  241 
Clark-Frankland  House,        -         -  59 

Corner  of  Winter,  Washington  and 

Summer  Streets,        ...         287 


Harvard,  Rev.  John,  Monument  to  125 

"         College,  South  View  of  133 

Harbor  from  Fort  Hilh  View  of   -  171 

Hollis  Street  Church,   -  323 


INDEX  TO  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Home  of  General  Warren,            -  257 
House  of  Industry  and  House  of 

Correction,         -  335 

Hutchinson  House,       ...  55 

Johnson's  Hall,  Court  Square,        -  353 

Joy  Building,        -         -         -         -  117 

Julien's  Restorator,       ...  75 

King's  Chapel,               ...  301 

Knox,  General,  Birthplace  of        -  280 

Lamb's  Map  of  Boston,        -         -  41 

Lamb  Tavern,       -  77 
Landing  a  Bishop,        -         -         -      .  197 

Lexington,  View  of  South  Part  of  239 

Lighthouse,  Boston       -  274 

Liberty  Tree,         -         -         -         -  213 

Lines  thrown  up  on  Boston  Neck,  266 

Massachusetts  Medical  College,  349 

Minot  House,       ....  155 

Mystic  River  Bridge,     ...  341 

Monument  to  Rev.  John  Harvard,  125 

New  South  Church,       -         -         -  317 

North  Battery  Certificate,      -         -  193 

New  England  Primer,  97 

"           "          Smith's  Map  of      -  33 

"           "         Wood's  Map  of      -  37 

Nix's  Mate  Island,         -         -         -  183 

North  Bridge,  Engagement  at        -  235 

Old  Elm,  1876,     -  179 

"       "     and  Boston  Common,     -  177 

Old  State  House  Fire,           -         -  375 

"    Court  House  and  City  Hall,  355 

"   Trinity  Church,      -         -         -  321 

"    Brick,             ....  297 

"    House  on  Prince  Street,         -  67 

"    South  Church,        -         -         -  309 

"    Scollay  Building,            -         -  348 

Order  of  Procession,    -         -  285 

Paper  Money,  First  Issue  of          -  139 

Plan  of  Boston  and  its  Environs,  263 

Pierce  House,       -         -         -         -  159 

"           "       Bread  from     -         -  158 

Plan  of  Dorchester  Neck,              -  273 

"       the  Action  at  Bunker  Hill,  245 


Primer,  New  England  ...  97 

Prince  Street,  Old  House  in           -  67 

Procession,  Order  of     -         -         -  285 

Perspective  view  of  Boston  Harbor,  205 

Quincy  Market.    ...         -  363 

Railroad  Advertisement,  First        -  366 

Railroad  Crossing,  Worcester  and 

Providence        ....  367 

Revere  View  of  Boston,         -         -  203 

"       Paul,  Portrait    ...  220 

"       Paul,  House  of          -         -  219 

Ruins  of  the  Ursuline  Convent,      -  333 

"         "      Boston  Fire,       -         -  379 


Savin  Hill,  View  of,  1830      - 
1882      - 
Scollay  Building, 
Shawmut,  or  Tramount 
Smith's  Map  of  New  England,  Part  of 
Small  Pox  Certificate,    -         -         - 
South  Battery  Certificate, 
State  House,  Old,  South  West  View  of 

"  "         "    Double  page 

State  House,  New 

"    Street  Massaere, 


H9 

.348 

14 

33 

35i 

191 

8S 
81 

■9—91 
209 

107 

77 

359 

37i 

29 

14 


Tavern,  Green  Dragon 

"        Lamb      - 
Theatre,  Federal  Street 
Tiger  Engine  No.  7,     - 
Town  Records,  First  Entry  in 
Tramount,  or  Shawmut 
Tremont  and  Boylston  Streets  in  1800,  291 
Triangular  Warehouse,  79 

Triumphal  Arch,  Washington        -         283 
Trinity  Church,     -         -         -  319 

Old      -        -        -        321 

Vue  de  Boston,     ....         289 

Washington,  Triumphal  Arch         •  283 

"            Elm,  Cambridge,       -  259 

Warren,  Home  of  General    -         •  257 

Winthrop,  Governor,  Portrait  of   •  19 

"                   "         Grave  of       -  23 

Wood's  Map  of  New  England,  1633  37 

Worcester  and  Providence  Railroad 

Crossing           -  367 


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INTRODUCTORY. 

No  city  in  the  United  States  gathers  within  its  limits  more 
matter  of  national  historic  import  than  the  city  of  Boston.  There 
is  not  a  foot  of  its  original  territory  (we  say  original  from  the 
fact  that  more  than  two-thirds  of  its  present  territory  is  made 
ground)  hut  what  is  associated  with  our  country's  struggle  for 
independence  or  the  trials  and  privations  of  its  early  settlers.  To 
the  antiquary  it  presents  an  inexhaustible  store  of  surprises  and  a 
veritable  mine  of  pleasure. 

The  first  edition  of  this  work  was  published  in  1882 ;  since  then 
some  new  material  has  been  added  to  this  edition,  and  some  matters 
of  minor  importance  have  been  omitted.  This  change  has  made  the 
second  edition  of  much  more  value  and  importance  than  the  first. 

In  compiling  the  matter  accompanying  each  illustration  the 
author  has  used  every  endeavor  to  give  a  clear,  concise  and  truth- 
ful description  of  the  subject  in  hand.  Every  authority  on  any 
one  subject  has  been  carefully  sought  out  and  consulted,  and  it  is 
believed  nothing  has  been  neglected  which  would  tend  to  make  the 
work  a  most  valuable  acquisition  to  the  history  of  Boston,  in  its 
letter-press  as  well  as  in  the  preservation  to  posterity  of  the  rare 
old  prints  here  incorporated.  The  author  takes  pleasure  in  ac- 
knowledging the  valuable  assistance  rendered  him  by  Dr.  Samuel 
A.  Green,  Librarian  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Library,  John 
Ward  Dean,  Librarian  of  the  New  England  Historic  Genealogical 
Society,  Judge  Chamberlain,  Librarian  of  the  Public  Library,  and 
H.  C.  Whitmore,  City  Registrar  and  Record  Commissioner  of 
Boston. 


The  following  letter  from  his  Honor  the  Mayor  of  Boston,  who  is  well  known 
as  the  Librarian  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  is  a  sufficient  guarantee 
of  the  value  and  reliability  of  this  work  : — 

>?  "^^    tv~i/u*yi    asm-  'uzyktj^  vbu±,  -U^ya^L^ 

'Uu^S'      fc^SHL  c^aXi^u^     U^CCs     ^^e.&    c^it£^/^ 


View  of  Boston  Taken  on  the  Road  Leading  to  Dorchester. 


STARK'S 

Antique  Views 

OF    YE 

TOWNE  OF  BOSTON. 


DISCOVERY    OF    BOSTON    HAKBOR. 

Who  were  the  first  discoverers  of  Boston  harbor  is  not  known. 
Some  historians  suppose  that  it  was  first  discovered  by  the  North- 
men, but  this  statement  cannot  be  substantiated. 

The  inhabitants  of  Norway,  Sweden,  and  Denmark,  were  at  a 
very  early  period  of  the  Christian  era  acquainted  with  the  science 
and  practice  of  navigation,  far  surpassing  the  people  of  the  South 
of  Europe  in  building  vessels,  and  managing  them  upon  the  sea. 
The  characteristics  of  these  people  were  of  a  predatory  and 
piratical  nature,  who  possessed  nothing  of  that  thirst  for  glory 
of  discovery  that  so  eminently  distinguished  those  of  the  Southern 
countries. 

As  early  as  861,  in  one  of  their  piratical  excursions,  they  dis- 
covered Iceland ;  and  about  the  year  889  Greenland  was  discov- 
ered, and  peopled  by  the  Danes,  under  Eric  the  Red,  a  noted 
chieftain  who  had  to  flee  his  country  for  murder. 

Very  early  in  the  eleventh  century,  Biarne,  an  Icelander,  who 
had  visited  many  countries  with  his  father  Heriulf,  for  trading 
purposes,  being  accidently  separated  in  one  of  the  vessels  from 


10  ANTIQUE  VIEW 8  OF  BOSTON. 

his  parent,  in  directing  his  course  to  Greenland,  was  driven  by  a 
storm  southwesterly  to  an  unknown  country,  level  in  its  forma- 
tion, destitute  of  rocks,  and  thickly  wooded,  having  an  island 
near  its  coast.  After  the  storm  abated  he  concluded  his  voyage 
to  Greenland,  and  related  his  discoveries  to  Lief,  the  son  of  Eric 
the  Eed,  a  person  of  an  adventurous  disposition,  whose  desires 
he  awakened  by  the  recital  of  his  accidental  discovery.  Lief 
sailed  in  the  year  1002  on  a  voyage  of  discovery,  and  it  is  stated 
that  the  Icelander  visited  not  only  the  shores  of  Greenland  and 
Labrador,  but  explored  the  coast  of  New  England,  during  which 
they  discovered  Boston  Harbor ;  one  of  the  promontories,  they 
named  "  Krossaness,"  and  which  archaeologists  have  been  led  to 
believe  was  one  of  the  headlands  of  Boston  Harbor,  named  after- 
ward by  the  Plymouth  settlers  Point  Allerton,  which  is  the  north- 
erly termination  of  Nantasket  Beach.  These  discoveries  of  the 
Northmen  were  forgotten  for  many  years,  and  as  late  as  the  fif- 
teenth century  Greenland  was  only  known  to  the  Norwegians  and 
Danes  as  the  "  lost  land."  It  is  more  than  probable  that  Colum- 
bus during  his  voyage  heard  of  the  discoveries  made  by  the 
Northmen,  or  saw  their  charts,  which  caused  him  to  so  strongly 
believe  that  there  was  "  land  to  the  westward." 

After  the  discovery  of  America  by  Columbus,  many  voyagers 
visited  the  American  coast  in  the  northern  latitude  before  the 
settlement  of  New  England ;  among  whom  were  John  Cabot  and 
his  son  Sebastian,  natives  of  Bristol,  who  made  the  first  authentic 
discovery  of  the  American  continent.  The  land  thus  discovered 
by  the  English  merchant  was  a  portion  of  Labrador,  which  event 
occurred  on  the  24th  of  June,  1497,  about  thirteen  months  before 
Columbus  on  his  third  voyage  came  in  sight  of  the  mainland,  and 
nearly  two  years  before  Americus  Vespucius  ventured  to  follow 
the  illustrious  Columbus. 

FIRST    AUTHENTIC   DISCOVERT    OF   BOSTON. 

In  1602,  Bartholomew  Gosnold,  a  daring  mariner  from  the 
west  of  England,  being  possessed  of  a  great  desire  for  discovery, 
set  sail  from  Yarmouth  in  a  small  vessel,  with  only  thirty-two 
men,  and  was  the  first  Englishman  who  came  in  a  direct  course 
and  set  foot  on  Massachusetts  soil,  selecting  a  small  island  called 
Cuttyhunk,    situated   at  the   mouth   of  Buzzards   Bay.     There, 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


11 


upon  a  little  but  well  wooded  island  of  about  one  acre  of  land,  in 
a  pond  of  fresh  water,  Gosnold  built  a  fort  and  established  a 
house,  the  vestiges  of  which  may  be  seen  at  the  present  time  ;  on 
the  18th  of  June,  scarcely  a  month  after  landing,  he  sailed  with 
his  men  for  home.  In  the  year  1614,  Captain  John  Smith,  of 
Pocahontas  notoriety,  a  celebrated  traveller  and  navigator,  sailed 
from  England,  and  explored  the  coast  of  New  England  in  a  boat 
which  he  built  after  his  arrival ;  by  this  means  he  was  enabled  to 
explore  the  bays,  harbors,  rivers,  and  difficult  and  dangerous 
places,  without  running  any  risk  or  danger  of  losing  his  vessel. 
With  eight  men  for  a  crew,  he  explored  the  coast  from  the  Pen- 
obscot to  Cape  Cod,  trading  with  the  Indians  for  furs.  On  this 
expedition  he  discovered  Boston  Harbor  and  the  Charles  River. 


FIRST    INTERVIEW   WITH    THE   INDIANS. 


THE    SETTLEMENT    OF    BOSTON. 

After  the  death  of  King  James  in  1625,  Charles  I.  succeeded 
to  the  throne,  who  committed  the  government  of  the  church  to 
men  of  arbitrary  principles,  passionately  fond  of  the  established 
rites  and  ceremonies,  and  disposed  to  press  the  observance  of 
them  with  rigid  exactness,  until  at  last  the  very  name  of  bishop 


12  ANTIQUE  VIEW 8  OF  BOSTON. 


& 


grew  odious  to  the  people,  and  they  were  forced  to  draw  their 
swords  in  defence  of  their  liberties,  whereby  the  kingdom  was 
involved  in  the  horrors  of  a  civil  war. 

This  being  the  melancholy  state  of  affairs,  Rev.  John  White, 
minister  of  Dorchester,  England,  encouraged  by  the  success  of 
the  Plymouth  Colony,  projected  a  new  settlement  in  Massachu- 
setts Bay.  Mr.  White  associated  himself  with  several  persons  of 
quality  about  London,  who  petitioned  the  King  to  confirm  their 
rights  by  a  patent,  which  he  did  on  the  4th  of  March,  in  the 
fourth  year  of  his  reign.  Their  general  business  was  to  be  dis- 
posed and  ordered  by  a  Court,  composed  of  a  Governor,  Deputy 
Governor,  and  eighteen  Assistants.  Their  jurisdiction  extended 
from  three  miles  north  of  the  Merrimack  to  three  miles  south  of 
the  Charles  River,  and  in  length  from  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  the 
South  Sea. 

Preparations  began  to  be  made  with  vigor  for  the  embarkation 
of  a  great  colony.  By  the  end  of  February,  1630,  a  fleet  of 
fourteen  vessels  was  furnished  with  men,  women,  and  children, — 
all  necessary  men  of  handicrafts,  and  others  of  good  condition, 
wealth  and  quality,  to  make  a  firm  plantation. 

In  this  fleet  were  congregated  our  forefathers,  with  their  wives 
and  little  ones,  leaving  their  native  country,  kindred,  friends,  and 
acquaintances ;  perhaps  forever, — to  break  asunder  those  cords 
of  affection  which  so  powerfully  bind  one  to  his  native  soil,  and 
to  dissolve  those  tender  associations  which  constitute  the  bliss  of 
civil  society.  All  the  fleet,  on  Monday,  March  29,  1630,  were 
riding  at  anchor  at  Cowes,  Isle  of  Wight.  By  head-winds  and 
other  causes  they  were  delayed  a  week,  during  which  they  im- 
proved one  day  as  a  fast. 

On  the  8th  of  April,  about  six  in  the  morning,  the  wind  being 
east  and  by  north,  and  fair  weather,  they  weighed  anchor,  and 
set  sail. 

"  No  accident  of  any  moment  occurred  on  board  of  the  ships. 
They  saw  one  or  two  whales,  one  with  a  bunch  on  his  back  about 
a  yard  above  water,  and  all  the  way  were  birds  flying  and  swim- 
ming, when  they  had  no  land  near  by  two  hundred  leagues."  On 
the  3d  of  June  they  approached  near  enough  to  the  coast  to  get 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  13 

soundings  in  eighty  fathoms  and  regaled  themselves  with  fish  of 
their  own  catching.  On  the  8th  they  had  sight  of  Mount 
Desert. 

' '  So  pleasant  a  scene  here  they  had  as  did  much  refresh  them  ; 
and  there  came  a  smell  off  the  shore  like  the  smell  of  a 
garden." 

Noah  could  hardly  have  been  more  gratified  to  behold  his  dove 
with  the  olive-leaf  in  her  mouth,  than  these  people  must  have  been 
to  have  received  a  visit  from  a  wild  pigeon  and  another  small  bird 
from  land. 

All  day  on  the  11th  they  stood  to,  and  again  within  sight  of  Cape 
Ann.  On  Saturday,  the  12th,  at  four  in  the  morning,  they  gave 
notice  of  their  approach,  from  a  piece  of  ordnance,  and  sent  their 
skiff  ashore.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  passing  through  the  narrow 
strait  between  Baker's  and  another  small  island,  they  came  to  an- 
chor in  Salem  Harbor.  The  other  ships  of  the  fleet  came  in  daily 
and  by  the  6th  of  July,  thirteen  out  of  the  fourteen  had  arrived 
safely,  without  the  loss  of  more  than  fifteen  lives  by  sickness  oi 
accident.  A  day  of  public  thanksgiving  was  therefore  kept  on 
the  8th  of  that  month. 

The  other  vessel,  the  "  Mary  and  John,"  which  brought  over 
Messrs  John  Warham  and  John  Maverick,  with  many  godly  fam- 
ilies from  Devonshire,  Dorsetshire  and  Somersetshire,  together 
with  Edward  Rossiter  and  Roger  Clap,  who  was  afterward  captain 
of  the  "  Castle,"  in  Boston  Harbor,  became  separated  from  the 
fleet  during  the  voyage,  and  was  the  first  to  arrive.  They  had 
some  difficulty  with  Captain  Squib,  who,  "like  a  merciless  man" 
(but  he  could  hardly  have  been  expected  to  do  different,  as  the 
harbor  was  but  little  known,  and  he  would  have  been  in  danger  of 
losing  his  ship  had  he  done  as  they  desired),  put  them  ashore  on 
Nantasket  Point,  now  called  Hull,  notwithstanding  they  held  that 
he  was  engaged  to  bring  them  to  the  Charles  River ;  yet  he  con- 
tended that  they  were  then  at  the  entrance  of  the  river.  This  all 
took  place  before  the  14th  of  June,  on  which  day  the  ship  "Ad- 
miral," of  the  New  England  fleet,  arrived  at  Salem,  in  which  Gov- 
ernor "Winthrop  and  Mr.  Isaac  Johnson  came  as  passengers. 


14 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


Governor  Winthrop,  after  his  arrival  at  Salem,  determined  to  re- 
move to  a  point  of  land,  since  called  Charlestown,  in  honor  of  Charles 
I.,  and  with  his  followers  took  up  his  abode  there,  and  dwelt  in 
the  ' '  Great  House,"  which  was  built  the  year  before  by  Mr.  Thomas 
Graves,  while  the  "multitude"  set  up  cottages,  tents,  and  booths. 
From  the  length  of  their  passage  over  the  Atlantic,  many  arrived  sick 
with  scurvy,  which  greatly  increased  afterward  through  the  want 
of  proper  houses  to  live  and  sleep  in.  Other  distempers  also  pre- 
vailed ;  and,  although  the  people  were  very  loving  and  kind  to  each 
other,  yet  so  many  were  afflicted  that  those  few  who  remained  well 
were  unable  to  attend  them  and  many  died  in  consequence.  Fewer 
dismal  days  did  the  first  settlers  experience  than  those  they  passed 
at  Charlestown.  In  almost  every  family  lamentation  was  heard, 
fresh  food  could  not  be  obtained,  and  that  which  added  to  their  dis- 
tress was  the  want  of  fresh  water ;  for  although  the  place  afforded 


THE  TRAMOUNT  OR  BHAWMDT. 


plenty,  yet  for  the  present  they  could  find  but  one  spring,  and  that 
could  not  be  reached  except  when  the  tide  was  down  :  this  want  of 
water  was  their  principal  cause  of  removal  to  Shawmut,  now  Bos- 
ton ;  for  notwithstanding  the  resolution  of  the  principal  men  to 
build  their  town  at  Charlestown,  the  discouragement  attendant  on 
sickness  and  death  caused  many  to  be  restless,  and  to  think  of  other 
locations  ;  in  the  mean  time  Mr.  William  Blackstone,  who  lived  at 
Shawmut  (which  signifies,  in  the  Indian  language,  "  living  water," 
on  account  of  the  springs  found  there,  and  called  by  the  new- 
comers Tramount,  or  Trimount,  from  its  appearance  from  Charles- 
town of  three  large  hills),  learned  of  their  distress,  and,  going 
over  to  their  relief,  advised  them  to  remove  to  this  peninsula. 
His  advice  was  kindly  received,  and  followed  soon  after.  Thus 
Boston  became  settled  by  the  English  Puritans. 


ANNIE   POLLARD 

AT  THE  AGE  OF  103  YRS. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


17 


THE  FIRST  SETTLER  OF  BOSTON. 


Was  Mr.   Blackstono.     This  was  acknowledged  during  the  life- 
time of  the  Governor,  as  shown  in  the  records  of  Charlestown  in 


BLACKSTONE  S    HOUSE. 


these  words  :  "  Mr.  Blackstone,  dwelling  on  the  other  side  of 
Charles  River  alone,  at  a  place  called  by  the  Indians,  Shawmut, 
where  he  had  a  cottage  at,  or  not  far  from,  the  place  called  Black- 
stone  Point  (supposed  to  he  the  southwest  slope  of  Beacon  Hill,  near 
the  corner  of  Beacon  and  Charles  sts.),  came  and  acquainted  the 
Governor  of  an  excellent  spring,  inviting  and  soliciting  him  thither. 
Whereupon,  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Johnson  and  divers  others, 
the  Governor  and  Mr. Wilson,  and  the  greatest  part  of  the  church, 
removed  thither ;  whither  also  the  frame  of  the  Governor's  house 
was  carried,  when  the  people  began  to  build  their  houses  against 
winter,  and  this  place  was  called  Boston,  which  was  named  after 
Boston  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  from  which  place  some  of  the 
settlers  came  from."  Blackstone's  house,  or  cottage,  in  which  he 
hived,  together  with  the  nature  of  his  improvements,  was  such  as 
to  authorize  the  belief  that  he  had  resided  there  some  seven  or 
eight  years.  He  was  a  retired  Episcopal  clergyman,  and  was  one 
of  those  who  preferred  solitude  to  society,  and  his  theological 
ideas  corresponded  with  those  habits  of  life.  How  he  became  pos- 
sessed of  his  lands  here  is  not  known  ;  but  it  is  certain  he  held  a 


18  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

good  title  to  them,  which  was  acknowledged  by  the  settlers  under 
Winthrop,  who,  in  the  course  of  time,  bought  his  lands  of  him, 
and  he  removed  out  of  the  jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts.  When 
he  invited  Winthrop  to  come  over  to  his  side  of  the  river,  he  prob- 
ably had  no  thought  of  removal  himself,  as  it  was  some  four  years 
later  when  he  changed  his  location.  His  selling  out  and  leaving 
Boston  was  no  doubt  occasioned  by  his  desire  to  live  more  retired, 
as  well  as  a  dislike  to  his  Puritan  neighbors.  He  said  he  "  left 
England  because  of  his  dislike  of  the  Lord  Bishops,  and  now  he 
did  not  like  the  Lord  Brethren."  One  of  the  new-comers  writes 
about  him  as  follows :  ' '  There  were  also  some  Godly  Episcopa- 
lians, among  whom  may  be  reckoned  Mr.  Blackstone,  who,  by 
happening  to  sleep  first  in  an  old  hovel,  upon  a  point  of  land 
there,  laid  claim  to  all  the  ground  whereupon  there  now  stands 
the  whole  metropolis  of  English  America,  until  the  inhabitants 
gave  him  satisfaction." 

Blackstone  retreated  to  that  beautiful  valley  through  which 
flows  the  Blackstone  River,  named  in  honor  of  him. 

Upon  Blackstone's  advice  the  Charlestown  settlers  acted,  and 
removed  to  Shawmut.  In  the  first  boat-load  that  went  over  was 
Anne  Pollard,  who  lived  to  be  one  hundred  and  five  years  old, 
and  whose  portrait  we  give,  which  was  copied  by  the  Photo- 
Electrotype  process,  from  a  painting  in  the  possession  of  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  that  was  painted  when  she  was 
one  hundred  and  three  years  old.  As  the  boat  drew  up  towards 
the  shore,  she  (being  then  a  romping  girl)  declared  she  would  be 
the  first  woman  to  land,  and,  before  anyone,  jumped  from  the 
bow  of  the  boat  on  to  the  beach.  According  to  this  statement, 
which  is  based  on  good  authority,  Anne  Pollard  was  the  first 
white  female  that  stood  on  the  soil  of  Boston.  Her  deposition,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-nine,  was  used  to  substantiate  the  location  of 
Blackstone's  house. 

THE   ABORIGINES 

The  Indians  living  to  the  north  visited  the  settlement  quite  fre- 
quently ;  but  no  intercourse  was  had  for  some  time  with  the  Mass- 
achusetts, living  to  the  southward,  whose  principal  residence  was 
on  the  Neponset  River.  At  the  head  of  these  was  a  chief  named 
Chickataubut.  He  had  learned,  probably,  that  Indians  who  visited 


GOVERNOR    WINTHROP. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


21 


the  new  people  at  Shawniut  fared  well,  and  he  resolved  to  venture 
among  them  to  see  what  benefit  they  would  be  to  him.  Accord- 
ingly he  mustered  up  considerable  men,  who,  with  their  wives, 
made  their  appearence  at  the  dwelling  of  the  Governor ;  and,  to 
satisfy  him  that  they  had  not  come  out  of  idle  curiosity,  he  pre- 
sented him  with  a  hogshead  of  Indian  corn.  The  Governor  could 
not  be  outdone  in  generosity  in  so  important  a  state  affair ;  and, 
therefore,  he  provided  a  dinner  for  the  whole  company.  The 
Governor  allowed  Chickataubut  to  dine  with  him  at  his  own  table, 
whore   he    behaved    himself  as  soberly  as  an   Englishman.     The 


INTERVIEW   BETWEEN   THE  INDIANS   AND    GOV.    WINTHRO?. 

next  day  after  dawn  they  returned  home ;  the  Governor  giving 
him  some  cheese  and  peas,  and  a  mug,  and  several  other  small 
things. 

EAULY   APPEAEAXCE  OF  BOSTON. 

Winthrop's  company  found  Boston  sparsely  wooded ;  water, 
however,  was  abundant  and  good.  In  addition  to  the  springs  near 
Blackstone's  house,  mention  is  made  in  the  first  records  of  a 
"great  spring"  in  Spring  Lane,  as  well  as  other  springs  on  the 
neck  and  elsewhere. 

The  first  settlers  located  chiefly  within  the  limits  between  what 
are  now  Hanover,  Tremont,  Bromfield,  and  Milk  Streets.  Pem- 
berton  Hill   was   also  a   favorite   place  of  residence.     The   first 


22  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

buildings  were  rude  and  unsightly.  They  were  of  wood,  with 
roofs  thatched,  while  the  chimneys  were  built  of  pieces  of  wood 
placed  crosswise,  and  covered  with  clay.  Economy  in  building 
was  carried  so  far  that  Governor  Winthrop  reproved  his  deputy, 
in  1632,  for  nailing  clapboards  upon  his  house,  saying  "that  he 
did  not  well  to  bestow  so  much  cost  about  the  wainscotinsr,  and 
adorning  his  house  in  the  beginning  of  a  plantation,  both  in  regard 
of  the  public  charges  and  for  example." 

The  first  General  Court  was  held  in  Boston,  in  1630.  John 
Winthrop  was  elected  Governor,  and  Thomas  Dudley,  Deputy 
Governor.  Our  portrait  of  Governor  Winthrop  was  copied  from 
the  painting  in  the  possession  of  the  Mass.  Historical  Society. 

The  government  of  the  town  was  in  the  hands  of  nine  select- 
men. 

In  1632,  Boston  was  declared  by  the  colonial  legislature  to  be 
"the  fittest  place  for  public  meetings  of  any  place  in  the  Bay," 
and  it  has  remained  the  capital  of  Massachusetts  ever  since. 


WINTHROP S    GRAVE. 

Governor  Winthrop  died  March  26,  1649.  He  was  called  the 
father  of  Boston,  and  no  death  has  happened  in  it  since  its  settle- 
ment which  caused  so  deep  a  sensation  among  its  inhabitants.  He 
was  interred  in  King's  Chapel  burying  ground,  on  the  northerly 
side  of  it,  directly  beneath  the  windows  of  the  Mass.  Historical 
Society,  from  whence  our  view  of  his  tomb  was  taken. 


X 
a 

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o 


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O 
Z 

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!       "'"'■■-IlllfillSii! 

lis 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  27 

BOSTON,  LINCOLNSHIRE,  ENGLAND. 

The  original  name  of  Boston  is  supposed  to  be  derived  from  an 
old  British  saint  of  the  name  of  Botolph,  who  lived  about  A.  D. 
650.  The  name  is  obtained  from  the  Saxon  boat  and  ulph,  help, 
because.  Botolph  was  the  tutelar  saint  of  mariners.  For  a  long 
series  of  ages  but  little  is  known  of  English  Boston.  For  nearly 
a  thousand  years  succeeding  its  foundation,  few  of  the  vicissitudes 
attending  it  through  that  dark  period  have  been  recorded.  Indeed , 
its  history  had  hardly  been  attempted  until  its  daughter  on  this  side 
of  the  Atlantic  had,  in  most  respects,  far  outgrown  her  mother 
city.  Two  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago,  at  the  time  the  fathers  of 
New  England  left  there,  it  was,  and  long  had  been,  a  famous  and 
flourishing  town,  built  on  both  sides  of  the  river  Witham,  whioh 
is  here  enclosed  on  both  sides  with  artifical  banks,  over  which  was 
a  high  wooden  bridge,  which  has  since  been  superseded  with  an 
iron  one  which  cost  £22,000.  At  a  far  remote  period,  it  had  be- 
come a  great  mart  for  wool,  "  which  very  much  enriched  and  in- 
vited thither  the  merchants  of  the  Hanse  towns,  who  fixed  their 
Guild  there."  In  1719,  the  inhabitants  were  chiefly  merchants  and 
graziers.  At  this  date,  it  had  a  commodious  and  well  frequented 
haven,  admitting  ships  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  tons  up  to  the 
town,  while,  only  thirty  years  later,  even  a  small  sloop  of  but 
forty  tons,  drawing  but  six  feet  of  water,  could  get  up  only  at 
spring  tides.  This  was  caused  by  the  river  being  choked  up  with 
silt.  Not  long  after,  however,  its  usual  navigation  was  restored 
by  cutting  a  new  channel  from  the  town  to  Dogdike,  an  extent  of 
twelve  miles.  To  an  inhabitant  of  Boston  in  New  England  it  may 
appear  scarcely  credible  for  places  elsewhere  to  remain  nearly  the 
same  for  a  hundred  years  together,  yet  such  was  the  case  with  the 
mother  of  Boston,  judging  from  the  following  facts  : — The  parish 
register  of  Old  Boston  shows  that  in  1614  there  were  thirty  mar- 
riages, eighty-four  baptisms,  and  eighty-three  burials ;  while  in 
1714,  just  one  hundred  years  later,  there  were  thirty-one  mar- 
riages, ninety-nine  baptisms,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-one 
deaths.  There  was  a  return  of  the  population  in  1768,  3,470  ;  in 
1801,  5,926  ;  in  1811,  8,113  ;  in  1831,  11,240 ;  in  1841,  34,680. 

St.  Botolph's  church,  which  is  one  of  the  prominent  objects  in 
the  engraving  and  one  of  the  most  famous  and  interesting  objects 
of  ancient  Boston,  rendered  doubly  famous  here  for  its  having  been 


28  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

the  church  of  which  Mr.  John  Cotton  was  vicar  twenty-one  years, 
and  from  which  he  was  obliged  to  fly  to  New  England.  This 
church  was  described  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  years  ago  as 
"  beautiful  and  large,  the  tower  of  which  is  so  very  high  as  to  be 
the  wonder  of  travelers,  and  the  guide  for  mariners  at  a  great  dis- 
tance. It  is  looked  upon  as  the  finest  in  England  and  is  280  feet 
high,  or  better,  and  was  begun  to  be  built  at  midsummer,  1309, 
Dame  Margaret  Tilney  laying  the  first  stone.  The  length  of  the 
church  is  equal  to  the  height  of  the  steeple,  ninety-four  yards. 
There  are  365  steps,  fifty  windows  and  twelve  pillars  which  are 
designed  to  parallel  the  days,  weeks  and  months  of  the  year."  Its. 
handsome  tower  was  built  after  the  model  of  that  of  the  great 
church  at  Anthwerp.  At  the  summit  of  this  tower  is  a  beautiful 
lantern,  for  a  guide  to  seamen,  which  can  be  seen  forty  miles.  It 
is  a  figurative  saying  of  some  of  the  pilgrims  who  settled  this  Bos- 
ton, that  the  lamp  in  the  lantern  of  St.  Botolph's  ceased  to  burn 
when  Cotton  left  that  church  to  become  a  shining  light  in  the  wil- 
derness of  New  England. 

St.  Botolph's  has  no  galleries,  yet  it  will  contain  five  thousand 
persons,  as  estimated  at  the  obsequies  of  the  late  Princess  Charlotte. 
The  nave  is  lofty  and  grand ;  the  ceiling,  representing  a  stone 
vaulting,  is  said  to  be  of  Irish  oak.  It  consists  of  fourteen  groined 
arches,  with  light  spandrils,  which,  by  their  elegant  curves,  inter- 
sections and  embowments,  produce  a  beautiful  effect.  The  upper 
part  of  the  nave  is  lighted  by  twenty-eight  clerstory  windows,  be- 
tween the  springs  of  the  arches.  The  chancel,  which  is  spacious 
and  lofty,  has  on  each  side  ranges  of  stalls,  the  seats  of  which 
are  ornamented  with  grotesque  carvings ;  over  these,  formerly, 
were  canopies,  highly  embelished  with  foliage  and  fret-work.  The 
altar  is  of  oak,  in  the  Corinthian  order.  Such  was  the  splendid 
and  magnificient  church  of  St.  Botolph's,  in  which  many  of  the 
fathers  of  "  New  England  Boston"  had  been  wont  to  worship,  and 
which  they  had  looked  upon  with  pious  reverence,  and  which  they 
justly  remembered  as  one  of  the  chief  glories  of  their  native  land. 
But  at  the  period  of  their  emigration,  a  great  change  had  com- 
menced. They  began  to  consider  extravagance  in  architecture 
and  dress  as  very  wicked,  and  disapproved  of  by  the  God  they 
intended  to  honor  by  such  extravagance. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  31 

FIRST  ENTRY  IN  THE  RECORDS  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BOSTON. 

Our  local  historians  very  generally  agree  that  there  are  several 
pages  missing  from  the  first  book  of  the  Records  of  Boston,  and 
what  there  is  left  of  it,  begins  Sept.  1,  1634  ;  the  first  entry  being 
herewith  faithfully  reproduced  by  the  Photo  Electrotype  Engrav- 
ing process. 

The  first  entries  are  in  the  autograph  of  Governor  Winthrop 
and  were  written  in  blue  :"nk,  which  is  still  bright.  It  is  thought 
that  the  missing  pages  were  occupied  chiefly  in  the  allotments  and 
distributions  of  lands,  and  it  is  probable  that  a  list  of  the  residents 
were  there  given,  but  this  is  simply  speculation.  What  now 
remains  seems  to  be  an  entire  book  of  161  pages,  written  on  fools- 
cap paper.  The  paging  and  indexing  was  a  comparatively  modern 
labor,  and  from  the  pages  running  regularly  through  the  book 
(from  1  to  161)  it  appears  to  be  complete. 

The  first  entry  begins  at  the  top  of  the  page  and  in  these 
words : 

"  Whereas,  it  has  been  founde  that  muche  damage  hath  alreadye 
happnd  by  laynge  of  stones  and  loges  neere  the  bridge  and  land- 
inge  place,  whereby  diverst  boats  have  been  much  bruised ;  for 
prvention  of  such  harmes  for  tyme  to  come,  it  is  ordered  that 
whosoever  shall  unlade  any  stones,  lumber  or  logges,  where  the 
same  may  be  plainely  seene  at  high  water,  shall  set  vp  a  pole  or 
beacon  thereof,  upon  pain  that  whosoever  shall  fail  so  to  doe  shall 
make  full  recompense  for  all  such  damage  as  shall  happen,  being 
only  declarative  of  ye  com.  lawe  herein." 

The  following  names,  occupying  the  left  hand  margin  of  the 
record,  are  presumed  to  have  been  those  of  the  select  men  present : 
John  Winthrop,  William  Coddington,  Captain  John  Underbill, 
Thomas  Oliver,  Thomas  Leverett,  Giles  Firmin,  John  Coggeshall, 
William  Pierce,  Robert  Hardinge  and  William  Brenton.  One 
name  crossed  out  is  presumed  to  be  that  of  Edmund  Quinsey. 

There  is  one  name  in  the  MS.  not  entirely  written  out.  This 
was  crossed  out  apparently  at  the  time  it  was  written,  and  is  pre- 
sumed to  have  been  that  of  "  Edmund  Quinsey,"  who  was  at  that 
time  an  inhabitant  of  Boston  and  had  been  admitted  a  freeman 
4th  March,  1634.  This  person,  whoever  he  was,  may  have  been 
appointed  one  of  the  Town  Officers,  but  had  not  accepted  the 
office,  or  otherwise,  was  prevented  from  being  present. 


32  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

The  Record  proceeds: — "It  is  also  ordered,  that  no  person 
shall  leave  any  fish  or  garbage  neare  the  said  bridge  or  common 
landing-place,  between  the  creeks,  whereby  any  annoyance  may 
come  to  the  people  that  passe  that  way,  vpon  payne  to  forfeit  for 
every  such  offence  five  shillings,  the  same  to  be  levied  by  distress 
of  the  goodes  of  the  offender. 


SMITHS   MAP. 

As  stated  in  the  first  part  of  this  work,  Captain  John  Smith 
made  the  first  authentic  discovery  of  Boston  Harbor.  On  his  re- 
turn to  England  he  published  a  map  which  clearly  shows  a  bay 
with  eight  islands  in  it,  into  which  flowed  a  river  which  he  called 
"Charles  River."  He  afterwards  made  use  of  later  explorers'  re- 
ports and  added  them  to  his  map.  This  map,  being  the  real  foun- 
dation of  our  New  England  cartography,  deserves  particular  at- 
tention. Smith  showed  his  map  to  Prince  Chai-les,  then  a  lad  of 
fifteen,  and  desired  him  to  give  names  to  the  different  points,  bays, 
rivers,  hills  and  other  physical  features.  Of  the  names  which  the 
Prince  assigned,  but  three  became  permantly  attached  to  the  lo- 
calities, and  these  are  Plimouth,  Cape  Anna,  and  the  river  Charles. 
Boston  has  been  changed  to  York,  Me.,  and  Smith's  Isles  to  Isles 
of  Shoals,  London  to  Hingham,  Oxford  to  Marshfield,  Poynt 
Suttliff  to  Brant  Rock,  Poynt  George  to  Gurnet.  New  England, 
as  the  general  designation  of  the  country,  has  been  suffered  to  re- 
main. Ten  or  more  editions  of  this  map  were  published  in  which 
there  were  many  distinctive  features.  Our  reproduction  is  a  por- 
tion of  the  map  published  in  "Mercator's  Atlas,"  1635,  four  years 
after  Smith's  death.  Although  the  old  date,  1614,  is  still  kept  on 
the  plate,  yet  the  following  words  which  appear  on  the  map  show 
that  it  followed  "Wood's  Prospects  of  1634  :  "He  that  desyres  to 
know  more  of  the  Estate  of  new  England  lett  him  read  a  new 
Book  of  the  prospecte  of  new  England  &  there  he  shall  have 
Satisfaction."  On  this  last  edition  appear  the  names  of  Boston, 
Roxbury,  Dorchester,  and  many  other  distinctive  features  that  do 
not  appear  on  the  first ;  as,  for  instance,  there  are  eighteen  islands 
in  the  harbor  instead  of  eight,  as  in  the  first  edition.  These 
changes  were  made  through  the  reports  of  later  visitors,  such  as 
Wood  and  others. 


Simon,  Jptufc-ut  Jau.[sLsi£ 


J L 


i       1       I 


Pf*T  of  Smith's  Map  of  New  England. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON'.  35 

wood's  map. 

This  map,  which  appeared  in  Wood's  New  England  Prospects, 
with  the  title,  "The  South  part  of  New  England  as  it  is  Planted 
this  yeare,  1634,"  is  the  oldest  map  known  giving  any  detail  of 
the  geography  of  the  vicinity  of  Boston.  We  herewith  give  a 
fac-simile  of  the  map.  Nothing  is  known  of  Wood,  except  that 
in  August,  1633,  he  left  this  country,  where  he  says  "he  had  lived 
these  four  years,  and  that  the  end  of  his  travel  was  observation, 
and  that  he  intended  to  return  shortly."  Wood,  in  his  descrip- 
tion, says  "Boston  is  two  miles  northeast  from  Roxberry.  His 
situation  is  very  pleasant,  being  a  peninsula  hemmed  in  on  the 
south  side  with  the  bay  of  Roxberry,  on  the  north  side  with 
Charles  River,  the  marshes  on  the  back  side  being  not  a  half  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  over ;  so  that  a  little  fencing  will  secure  their 
cattle  from  the  wolves.  Their  greatest  wants  be  wood  and 
meadow-ground,  which  never  were  in  that  place,  being  constrained 
to  fetch  their  building  timber  and  firewood  from  the  islands  in 
boats  and  their  hay  in  lighters.  It  being  a  neck,  and  bare  of  wood, 
they  are  not  troubled  with  three  great  annoyances,  of  wolves, 
rattlesnakes,  and  mosquitoes.  These  that  live  here  upon  their 
cattle,  must  be  constrained  to  take  farms  in  the  country,  or  else 
they  cannot  subsist ;  the  place  being  too  small  to  contain  many, 
and  fittest  for  such  as  can  trade  into  England  for  such  commodi- 
ties as  the  country  wants,  being  the  chief  place  for  shipping  and 
merchandise.  This  neck  of  land  is  not  above  four  miles  in  com- 
pass ;  in  form  almost  square,  having  on  the  south  side,  at  one 
corner,  a  great  broad  hill,  whereon  is  planted  a  fort,  which  can 
command  any  ship  as  she  sails  into  any  harbour  within  the  still 
bay.  On  the  north  side  is  another  hill,  equal  in  bigness,  whereon 
stands  a  windmill.  To  the  northwest  is  a  high  mountain  with 
three  little  rising  hills  on  the  top  of  it ;  wherefore  it  is  called  the 
Tramount.  From  the  top  of  this  mountain  a  person  may  over- 
look all  the  islands  which  lie  before  the  bay,  and  descry  such  ships 
as  are  upon  the  sea-coast.  This  town  although  it  be  neither  the 
greatest  nor  the  richest,  yet  it  is  the  most  noted  and  frequented, 
being  the  centre  of  the  plantations,  where  the  monthly  courts  are 
kept.  Here  likewise  dwells  the  Governor.  This  place  hath  very 
good  land,  aflbrding  rich  cornfields  and  fruitful  gardens  ;  having 
likewise  sweet  and  pleasant  springs." 


36  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


lamb's  map  of  boston  according  to  the  book  or 

POSSESSIONS. 

By  order  of  the  General  Court,  on  April  1,  1634,  it  was  ordered 
that  a  survey  of  the  houses  and  lands  of  every  inhabitant  in  every 
town  should  be  made,  and  a  transcript  sent  to  the  court  within  six  ' 
months.  It  is  possible  that  the  Book  of  Possessions  was  compiled 
according  to  this  order,  for  on  a  slip  of  paper  in  the  library  of  the 
Mass.  Hist.  Society  is  the  following  testimony  of  Isa  Addington  : 
"These  may  Certify  whom  it  may  Concern,  That  when  I  came 
first  into  the  office  of  Clerk  of  the  Court  of  Suffolk  in  the  year 
1672  I  there  found  a  Book  Entitled  on  the  Cover  Possessions  of 
the  Inhabitants  of  Boston,  which  I  many  times  lookt  into  and 
extracted  several  things  out  of  it  at  the  desire  of  particular  per- 
sons, but  alwaies  was  in  doubt  of  the  validity  of  it  as  a  Record. 
And  it  remained  in  the  office  at  the  time  when  I  was  dismissed 

Isa  Addington." 

Succeeding  generations,  however,  have  placed  a  higher  value 
on  this  book,  and  it  is  now  recognized  as  the  foundation  of  the 
title  of  most  of  the  real  estate  of  the  old  portion  of  the  city.  The 
volume  itself,  now  in  the  custody  of  the  city  clerk,  was  evidently 
prepared  on  a  plan  of  giving  a  half  page  to  each  person,  and  of 
entering  under  his  name  a  list  of  his  lands.  The  city  of  Boston 
has  made  a  transcript  of  this  work  and  published  it  for  free  distri- 
bution. Mr.  Geoi'ge  Lamb  has  recently  made  a  map  of  the  loca- 
tion of  the  lots  of  the  owners  mentioned  in  the  Book  of  Possessions, 
undertaking  to  mark  thereon  the  outlines  of  the  several  estates, 
with  the  names  of  the  owners  of  the  lots.  The  size  of  the  map  is 
9  ft.  4  in.  by  5  ft.  4  in.,  and  is  divided  into  nine  sections.  This 
map  was  purchased  by  the  Trustees  of  the  Public  Library,  and 
copies  distributed  to  conveyancers  and  antiquarians  for  corrections 
and  additions.  Much  yet  remains  to  be  done,  and  it  will  be  the 
work  of  years  of  research  before  its  correctness  will  be  attainable, 
even  if  at  all.  In  our  reduced  form  of  Lamb's  map,  it  is  impos- 
sible to  give  the  names  of  the  owners  of  the  lots  as  Lamb  has 
done,  or  to  give  his  boundary  lines,  which  are  purely  imaginary. 
The  lots  are  accordingly  indicated  by  numbers  in  each  section  of 
the  map,  and  by  comparing  the  number  with  the  text  the  name  of 
the  owner  of  each  lot  may  be  ascertained. 


Woof's  Map  of  New  England,  1634. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


39 


1.  "William  Colborn 

2.  Edward  Belcher 

3.  William  Talmag< 

4.  Thomas  Snow 


9, 
10, 


c. 


Cotton  Flack 
Jacob  Eliot 
William  Talmage  16 
Robert  Walker 


13, 14.  Wm.  Salter 
15.  Rich'd  Croychley 

Richard  Parker 
17.  Mr.  Roe 


5.  Robert  Walker       11.  John  Cramwell      18.  William  Colborn 

6.  William  Briscoe      12.  Ralph  Roote 


1.  John  CogaD  10. 

3.  James  Pen  11. 

4.  Robert  Turner         12. 

5.  Thomas  Millard       13. 

6.  Richard  Truesdale  14. 

7.  Nathaniel  Eaton      15. 

8.  Zaccheus  Bos  worth  16. 

9.  Jane  Parker  17. 

18. 


Nat.  Chappell  etal  19. 
Richard  Pepys  20. 
Thomas  Millard  21. 
William  Wilson  22. 
Richard  Parker  23. 
John  Ruggles  24. 
Edmund  Dennis  25. 
Zacch's  Bosworth  a. 
Richard  Sherman    b. 


Wm.  Beamsley 
Robert  Wing 
Francis  Lyle 
James  Johnson 
Thomas  Clarke 
Thomas  Buttolph 
Richard  Cooke 
John  Biggs 
Valentine  Hill 


A.  John  Cogan  15. 

B.  Burying-ground      16. 

1.  Thomas  Scottow      17. 

C.  Rich'd  Hutchinson  18. 

2.  Gov'r  Winthrop      19. 

3.  Atherton  Hough      20. 

4.  Robert  Reynolds     21. 

5.  John  Stevenson       22. 

6.  Nathaniel  Bishop     23. 

7.  Nicholas  Parker      24. 

8.  James  Penn  25. 

9.  John  Kendrick        26. 

10.  William  Dinsdale  27. 

11.  Robert  Rice  28. 

12.  William  Pell         29. 

13.  John  Spoore  30. 

14.  Rich'd  Fairbanks  31. 


Richard  Gridley  32. 
Wm.  Davies,  Sr.  33. 
John  Harrison  34. 
Richard  Gridley  35. 
Nicholas  Baxter  36. 
Edward  Brown  37. 
Matthew  Iyons  38. 
Wm.  Leatherland39. 
William  Teft  40. 
Thomas  Munt  41. 
Jonathan  Negoos  42. 
Thomas  Foster  43. 
Richard  Tuttle  44. 
Benjamin  Gillam  45. 
Robert  Turner  46. 
William  Deming  47. 
Capt.  Rob't  Keayne48. 


Robert  Scott 
Mauditt  Engles 
Benjamin  Negoos 
Gamaliel  Waite 
Thomas  Oliver 
Robert  Scott 
John  Palmer,  Sr 
Amos  Richardson 
Wm.  Hudson,  Sr 
George  Griggs 
Wm.  Blantaine 
Thomas  Bell 
Richard  Hollick 
Gamaliel  Waite 
Rich'd  Woodhouse 
John  Viall 
The  Pond      . 


40 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


49.  Edw'd  Fletcher  70. 

50.  Richard  Waite  71. 

51.  Charity  White  72. 

52.  Francis  East  73. 

53.  Nathaniel  Eaton  74. 

54.  Richard  Hogg  75. 

55.  John  Marshall  76. 

56.  Nath'l  Woodward  77. 

57.  John  Palmer,  Jr  78. 

58.  Elizabeth  Purton  79. 

59.  Job  Judkins  80. 

60.  Robert  Hull  81. 

61.  John  Hurd  82. 

62.  Wm.  Blantaine  83. 

63.  Thomas  Wheeler  84. 

64.  Atherton  Hough  85. 
65..  Francis  Lyle  86. 

66.  Thomas  Millard  87. 

67.  Thomas  Grubb  88. 

68.  Wm.  Aspinwall  89. 

69.  Ephraim  Pope  90. 


Edmund  Dennis 
Edmund  Jacklin 
Wm.  Townsend 
Jane  Parker 
Richard  Sherman 
Daniel  Mand 
Richard  Cooke 
Rich'd  Fairbanks 
Zach.  Bosworth 
John  Synderland 
Richard  Cooke 
John  Lugs: 
Arthur  Perry 
Robert  Blott 
Mr.  Flint 
Anthony  Harker 
Mr.  Flint 
Thomas  Clarke 
Ralph  Mason 
Robert  Wing 
Henry  Webb 


91.  George  Burden 

92.  James  Johnson 

93.  John  Leverett 

94.  Wm.  Chamberlain 

95.  Richard  Carter 

96.  Jacob  Leger 

97.  Rob't  Woodward 

98.  Jacob  Leger 

99.  Thomas  Fowle 

100.  Walter  Sinet 

101.  John  Odlin 

102.  Cole 

103.  Griffith  Bowen 

104.  Garrett  Bourne 

105.  Edwd.  Rainsford 

106.  David  Offley 

107.  Owen  Rowe 

108.  John  Pelton 

109.  The  Marsh 
d.  Wm.  Colborne 


1.  Sampson  Shore 

2.  John  Hill  18. 

3.  David  Sellick  19. 

4.  John  Mylom  20. 

5.  Wm.  Werdall  21. 

6.  Valentine  Hill  22. 

7.  John  Oliver  23. 

8.  John  Knight  24. 

9.  John  Pierce  25. 

10.  Thomas  Marshall  26. 

11.  The  Bridge  27. 

12.  Thomas  Hawkins  28. 

13.  John  Button  29. 

14.  John  Davies  30. 

15.  Gabriel  Fish  31. 

16.  Valentine  Hill  32. 


33. 
John  Lowe  34. 

Rich'd  Bellingham35. 
Henry  Symons  36. 
John  Hill  37. 

James  Everill  38. 
Edmund  Dennis  39. 
John  Button  40. 

Nicholas  Willis  41. 
Thomas  Painter  42. 
George  Barrell  43. 
Thos.  Makepeace  44. 
Anne  Hunne  45. 

George  Bates  46. 
George  Burden  47. 
Francis  Dowse      48. 


Jeremy  Houchin 
Sarah  Knight 
Samuel  Greames 
Wm.  Hudson,  Jr 
John  Glover 
George  Burden 
Hugh  Gunnison 
Capt.  Wm.  Tyng 
Rich'd  Bellingham 
Chris'r  Stanley 
Thomas  Buttolph 
Valentine  Hill 
Henry  Dunster 
Thomas  Hawkins 
John  Biggs 
James  Brown 


Lamb's  Map 


6  o ston 

J}oo/cgf/*ossess/o/?s . 


¥ 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


43 


49. 
50. 
51. 
52. 
53. 
54. 
55. 
56.. 
57. 
58. 
59. 
60. 
61. 
62. 
63. 
64. 
65. 
66. 
67. 
68. 
69. 
70. 


Alexander  Beck  71. 
Joshua  Scottow  72. 
Benj.  Thwing  73. 
Wm.  Wilson  74. 

Dinely  heirs  75. 

Eichard  Tapping  76. 
Prison  lot  77. 

Eichard  Parker  78. 
John  Leverett  79. 
Eich'd  Truesdale  80. 
Valentine  Hill  81. 
Meeting  House  82. 
Gen.  Sedgwick  83. 
Ed.  Hutchinson  84. 
Henry  Messenger  85. 
Market  Place  86. 
Wm.  Hudson  Sr.  87. 
Wm.  Davies  Sr.  88. 
John  Winthrop  89. 
Elder  Leverett  90. 
Eobert  Scott  91. 
Eobert  Scott         92. 


Henry  Webb         93.  Valentine  Hill 
William  Parsons   94.  Isaac  Grosse 
James  Davies        95.  Edward  Bendall 
John  Spoore  96.  George  Foxcroft 

William  Hibbens  97.  Eobert  Nash 
Eichard  Sherman  98.  Wm.  Franklin 
The  Spring  Gate  99.  Maj.  Gibbons 
Deacon  Oliver       100.  William  Corser 
/.  Val.  Hill's  bridge 
g.  Bend  on  Battery- 
march  Street 

101.  Nat'l  Woodward 

102.  Ed.  Hutchinson 

103.  Benjamin  Ward 
Eev.  John  Wilsonl04.  Benjamin  Gillom 
Anth'y  Stoddard  105.  John  Compton 

106.  The  Fort 

107.  Wm.  Hibbins 


Eich'd  Fairbanks 
William  Corser 
Maj.  Keayne 
Mary  Hudson 
Henry  Webb 
John  Cogan 


Valentine  Hill 
Wm.  Davies  Jr. 
William  Pierce 
David  Sellick 
James  Oliver 
Edward  Tyng 


[There  are  no  own- 
ers assigned  to  G.  17 
on  Lamb's  map.] 


H. 


1.  James  Johnson        15. 

2.  John  Smith  16. 

3.  Maj.  Edw.  Gibbonsl7. 

4.  Eobert  Nash  18. 

5.  Henry  Pease  19. 

6.  John  Leverett  et  al  20. 

7.  Nathaniel  Chappel  21. 

8.  John  Cole  22. 

9.  John  Mellows  23. 

10.  Edmund  Jackson  24. 

11.  Jeremy  Houtchin  25. 

12.  Edward  Bendall    26. 

13.  Eev.  John  Cotton27. 

14.  Daniel  Maud  28. 


Eich'd  Bellingham29. 
Valentine  Hill  30. 
Eobert  Meeres  31. 
Eobert  Howen  32. 
Anne  Hunne  33. 

Henry  Fane  34. 

John  Newgate  35. 
Jeremy  Houtchin  36. 
Mr.  Stoughton  37. 
James  Johnson  38. 
Thomas  Hawkins  39. 
William  Kirkby  40. 
James  Hawkins  41. 
Eichard  Parker     42. 


Eichard  Sanford 
Eobert  Meers 
Henry  Pease 
Alexander  Beck 
George  Burden 
David  Sellick 
Edmund  Jackson 
Eobert  Meers 
Eobert  Turner 
William  Davies 
John  Biggs 
James  Pen 
John  Mellowes 
Eich'd  Fairbanks* 


44 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


43.  Henry  Pease 

44.  Thomas  Oliver 

45.  Richard  Carter 


46.  James  Brown 

47.  Alexander  Beck 

48.  Isaac  Addington 


49.  Thomas  Clarke 

50.  Edward  Gibbons 

51.  Thomas  Munt 


1.  Chris'r  Stanley 

2.  Thos.  Buttolph 

3.  William  Copp 


4.  John  Button 

5.  John  Shaw 

6.  Windmill  lot 


7.  Valentine  Hill 

8.  Nicholas  Parker 


00.  Chris'r  Stanley        9. 

0.  Nicholas  Parker    10. 

1.  Thomas  Buttolph  11. 

2.  Edward  Goodwin  12. 


3.  John  Sweet 

4.  Isaac  Grosse 

5.  John  Seabury 

6.  Walter  Merry 

7.  Isaac  Grosse 

8.  Wm.  Beasley 


13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 

17. 
18. 


K. 

Anne  Tuttle  19. 
Nehemiah  Bourne  20. 

Capt.  Hawkins  21. 

Edward  Bendall  22. 

Thomas  Savage  23. 

Edmund  Grosse  24. 

Samuel  Cole  25. 

Isaac  Cullimer  26. 

Thomas  Joy  27. 
Richard  Rawlins 


Thomas  Clarke 
Thomas  Joy 
Isaac  Cullimer 
Bart.  Passmore 
Francis  Hudson 
John  Gallop 
Matthew  Chaffie 
Wm.  Hudson  Sr. 
Thomas  Meekins 


TOWN 


Boston 


iartons  Point 


Wfok 


<m 


G 


1 722 

^Etatui  ■fiux  So. 


Fox  Hill 


• 


GEORGE  G.SlUTH./.ll7,Via;&W 
TBBI-Xb.&IWasliuiyam.opposite  State  Store  Bostun. 
1835. 


.:>.'■ 


^fi  P  owderHo 
-&    Watch  Houfe 

COMMOF 


School  E^t  P  I       £. 

C=>,  -Kill 

!? .tfif 


•^ 


©- 


OiunuU    J^ 


)  r^iii 


I/ot/^h^" 


-A 


ess4-..- 


.1 


Scaleof  *  a  Mile. 


Hilh 


CB0ST0JS:N.E     Explanation 


! 

L 


fl/Wlted  An.Dom.)^o 

KF/ee  Old  Church..., '^J<? 

~Q.Old/}lo-rth 1^0' 

C.OldSouth /  ^fo 

\).Qmruihaptift. /<f<ft> 

E.<2A of 'England  .....1 68S 

JLfiT,ttth  St  Ouirch l^S9 

Q^u,aJc/>7D. , 1710 

VLWUtvllvrth ._....,. l  j  a- 

I  'UnvJouth. tjt  ef 

KFrench _   ...   ljiff 

VTUwWBnd:. ,7i, 


a-.ToTU-evHouXe 
^djowmounlfoidt. 
c.  South  Ijrariia/rSchool . 
a. .  Tlorih  (/ramajrScJwel . 
e  .'Jl/'ritifia  Scho  ol . 
f  .TUritirujSchool . 
g .  CUrm  Jloiifc  . 
\1.JBr1dennU . 

StrttU  42jjvneA  j6(UleaM 
-HouJea  near  3000. 

iooo3rick  rzftTvmber 
\7lear  12  000  people,  . 


Great  Fires. 

Firft ifftf 

Second. 1 6-]  6 

Thvrd '^70 

Fourth, 168$ 

Fifth. i6go 

Sixth. i6qi 

Seventh tjo  2 

Fiath, fjn 


WindJvftlPoint    V 


11 

tren 
Small  Pox. 

Firjt. 1640 

Second 1660 

Thinl.....\!i?l 

Fourth      \6S*°0 

Fifflv /  jos 

SicUk x  7  9  1 


RoTirtons 
"Yard . 


• S  Battery. 


"A* 


■3 


JEnarov-tyn  amd  Frinted  Jrjj  Fra.  1) esnd/iw .  J3oftoii  NE.17  2  2        Jp^  by  Cap1.  John  Jjtmn&r  Ond   (Vvll^Pricc  apant/h  it  TimmJIo-i^e 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


47 


THE    BONNER    MAP. 

This  map  was  drawn  by  Captain  John  Bonner,  and  engraved 
and  printed  by  Francis  Dewing  in  1722,  and  is  the  oldest  map  of 
Boston  in  existance,  showing  the  streets  and  prominent  places. 
The  original  from  which  this  was  copied  is  preserved  in  the  archives 
of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society.  The  size  of  the  plate 
was  about  2  feet  by  17 J  inches,  and  was  afterwards  published  by 
William  Price,  with  additions  and  emendations,  in  1733,  1743  and 
1769,  and  possibly  in  other  years,  as  the  date  of  the  map  was 
sometimes  put  upon  it  with  writing-ink.  This  map  was  the  basis 
of  all  other  plans  of  the  town  for  many  years.  William  Price, 
who  was  interested  in  the  sale  of  the  map,  had  a  shop  "  against  ye 
Town  House."  He  died  in  1772,  aged  87.  There  is  a  tablet  to 
his  memory  in  King  Chapel  burying  ground. 

List  of  the  names  of  the  prominent  Places  and  Streets  of  Boston 

as  shown  on  the  Bonner  Map  of  1722,  and  their  present 

names  and  location  in  1882. 


NAMES  ON  BONNER  MAP,   1722. 


PRESENT  NAME,  1SS2. 


LOCATION. 


Ann  Street,  North, 

Back  Street,  Salem, 

Barton's  Point,  formerly  Blackstone's, 


Battery  Alley, 
Batterymarch  St., 
Beacon  Street, 
Beech  Street, 
Beer  Lane, 
Belcher's  Lane, 
Bell  Alley, 
Bennett  Street, 
Bishop's  Alley, 
Blind  Lane, 
Bowling  Green, 
Brattle  Street, 
Cambridge  Street, 

Charter  Street, 
Church  Square, 

Clark's  Square, 
Cold  Lane, 


Union  to  Cross. 
Blackstone  to  Prince. 
Foot  of  Leverett  Street. 
Hanover  to  Commercial. 
Milk  to  Oliver. 
Tremont  to  State  House. 
Washington  to  Harrison  Av 
Hanover  to  Salem. 
Summer  to  Oliver. 
Hanover  to  North  Square. 
Salem  to  Hanover. 
Summer  to  Milk. 
Summer  to  Kingston. 

Space  between  Cambridge,  Pitts,  Sudbury 
and  Merrimac  Streets. 

Franklin  Ave.  and  Brattle  Squ.  and  St.  (east) 
Sudbury  to  Anderson. 

Hanover  to  Commercial. 
Rear  of  Joy  (now  Rogers) 


Battery  Street, 
Broad  &  Purchase, 
Beacon, 
Beach, 

Parmenter  Street, 
Purchase  Street, 
Prince  Street, 
No.  Bennett  St., 
Hawley  Street, 
Bedford  Street, 


Cambridge 

and  part  of  Court. 

Charter, 
Cornhill  Court, 

North  Square. 
Portland  Street, 


Building. 


Sudbury  to  Haymarket  Sq. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


Common  Street, 
Cooper's  Alley, 
Cornhill, 
Corn  Market, 
Cow  Lane, 
Crab  Lane, 
Crooked  Alley, 
Crooked  Lane, 
Cross  Street, 
Davies  Lane, 
Dock  Square, 
Essex  Street, 
Flounder  Lane, 
Ferry  Way, 
Fish  Street, 
Fleet  Street, 
Frog  Lane, 
Gallop's  Alley, 
Garden  Court, 
Gibbs'  Lane, 
Gray's  Lane, 
Girdley  Lane, 
Hanover  Street, 
Half  Square  Court, 
Hillers'  Lane, 
Hogg  Alley,_ 
Hudson's  Point, 
Hull  Street, 
King  Street, 
Leverett's  Lane, 
Long  Lane, 
Love  Lane, 
Lynn  Street, 
Mackerel  Lane, 
Marlborough  St., 
Merchant's  Row, 
Middle  Street, 
Milk  Street, 
Mill  Creek, 
Moon  Street, 


Tremont, 
Kilby  Street, 
Washington  St., 

High  Street, 
Batterymarch  St., 
Federal  St., 
Devonshire  St., 
Cross, 
Beacon  St., 
Dock  Square, 
Essex, 

Atlantic  Avenue, 
Commercial  St., 
North, 
Fleet, 

Boylston  Street, 
Board  Street, 
Garden  Court  St. , 
Oliver  Street, 
Congress  Street, 
Girdley  Street, 
Hanover, 
Congress  Square, 
Brattle  Street, 
Avery  Street, 
Gas  Co.'s  Wharf, 
Hull, 
State, 

Congress  Street, 
Federal  Street, 
Tileston  Street, 
Commercial, 
Kilby  Street, 
Washington, 
Merchant's  Row, 
Hanover, 
Milk, 

Blackstone  St., 
Moon, 


School  to  Boylston. 
Milk  to  Water. 
School  to  Dock  Square. 
South  side  of  Ftineuil  Hall. 
Summer  St.  to  Fort  Hill  Sq 
Liberty  Sq.  to  Broad  St. 
High  to  Purchase. 
State  to  Dock  Square. 
North  to  Endicott. 
State  House  to  Walnut  St. 
Place  around  Town  Dock. 
Washington  to  South. 
Summer  to  Congress  Sts. 
Prince  to  Charter. 
Cross  to  Fleet. 
Hanover  to  North. 
Washington  to  Charles. 
Hanover  to  North. 
Fleet  to  North. 
High  to  Purchase. 
High  to  Purchase. 
High  to  Purchase. 
Court  to  Blackstone. 
State  to  Devonshire  St. 
Court  to  Brattle  Square. 
Washington  to  Tremont. 
Foot  of  Charter  Street. 
Snowhill  to  Salem. 
Washington  to  Long  Wharf 
State  to  Water. 
High  to  Milk. 
North  to  Salem. 
Charter  to  Battery. 
State  to  Milk. 
Summer  to  School. 
State  St.  to  Faneuil  Hall  Sq 
Blackstone  to  Bennett. 
Washington  to  Broad. 
North  St.  to  Haymarket  S< | . 
North  to  Fleet. 


JUSTTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


49 


JNewbery  Street, 
North  Battery, 
Old  Way, 
Oliver  Street, 
Orange  Street, 
Pierce's  Alley, 
Pond  Street, 
Prince  Street, 
Pudding  Lane, 
Queen  Street, 
Rainsford  Lane, 
Salem  Street, 
Salutation  Alley, 
School  Street, 
Sea  Street, 
Ship  Street, 
Short  Street, 
Shrimpton  Street, 
Sliding  Alley, 
Snow  Hill  Street, 
South  Street, 
South  Battery, 
Spring  Lane, 
Sudbury  Street, 


Washington, 

Battery  Wharf, 

Path  from  Cross 

Oliver, 

Washington, 

Change  Avenue, 

Bedford, 

Prince, 

Devonshire  St., 

Court, 

Harrison  Ave., 

Salem, 

Salutation  St., 

School, 

Federal, 

Commercial, 

Kingston, 

Exchange, 

Foster  Street, 

Snowhill, 

South, 

Rowe's  Wharf, 

Spring  Lane, 

Sudbury, 


Summer  Street,        Summer, 
Sun  Court,  Sun  Court  St., 

Tanner's  Lane,  Congress  St., 

Tilley's  Lane,  (closed  up,) 
Treamount  Street.    Tremont, 
Turnagain  Alley, 
Union  Street, 
Water  Street, 
West  Street, 
White  Bread  Alley,  Harris  Street, 
Winter  Street,  Winter, 

Wood  Lane,  Richmond  St., 

Wind  Mill  Point, 


Temple  Place, 
Union, 
Water, 
West, 


Beach  to  Summer. 
E.  Boston  to  North  Ferry, 
to  Snowhill  St.,  now  closed. 
Milk  St.  to   Fort  Hill  Sq. 
Essex  to  Dover. 
State  St.  toFaneuil  Hall  Sq. 
Washington  to  Kingston. 
Hanover  to  Commercial. 
State  to  Water. 
Washington  to  Hanover. 
Essex  St.  to  Beach. 
Prince  to  Charter. 
Hanover  to  Commercial. 
Washington  to  Tremont. 
Summer  to  East. 
Fleet  to  Battery  Wharf. 
Bedford  to  Essex. 
State  St.,  to  Dock  Sq. 
Charter  to  Commercial. 
Prince  to  Charter. 
Summer  to  East. 
Foot  of  Broad  Street. 
Washington  to  Devonshire. 
Hanover  St.  to  Haymarket 

Square. 

Washington  to  Federal. 
Fleet  to  North. 
Water  to  Milk. 
Purchase  to  High. 
Beacon  to  Hanover. 
West  half  to  Tremont. 
DockSq.  to  Haymarket  Sq. 
Washington  to  Congress. 
Washington  to  Tremont. 
Hanover  to  North. 
Washington  to  Tremont. 
Hanover  to  Commercial. 
Cor.  East  and  Federal  Sts. 


50  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

THE    MASSACHUSETTS    CHARTER. 

"We  herewith  give  a  reproduction  of  the  charter  as  at  present 
displayed  on  the  walls  of  the  Secretary's  Office  at  the  State  House. 
It  is  on  rollers,  and  in  our  engraving  is  greatly  reduced  in  size. 

The  Royal  Charter  guaranteed  to  the  Massachusetts  Company, 
their  heirs  and  assigns,  a  certain  parcel  of  land  in  Massachusetts 
Bay  in  New  England,  extending  from  three  miles  south  of  Charles 
river  to  three  miles  north  of  the  Merrimac  river,  and  in  breadth 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  South  Seas.  It  also  gave  the  company 
power  to  make  laws  and  elect  officers  for  disposing  and  ordering 
the  general  business  of  the  plantation  and  the  government  of  the 
people.  These  were  extraordinai*y  privileges  for  those  times,  and 
made  the  colonists  very  independent.  They  were  subjects  to  the 
crown  in  name,  but  were  in  reality  masters  of  their  own  public 
affairs,  and  the  government  of  the  colony  was  but  little  different 
from  that  of  the  State  to-day.  Under  the  Charter  they  were  pro- 
hibited from  making  laws  that  should  be  repugnant  to  the  laws  of 
England.  It  was  reported  in  England  that  the  power  of  govern- 
ment contained  in  the  Charter  was  abused.  Commissioners  were 
sent  to  Massachusetts  to  investigate  matters.  They  reported  that 
Quakers,  Episcopalians  and  Baptists  were  persecuted ;  that  the  laws 
of  England  regulating  trade  were  entirely  disregarded,  and  that  no 
laws  were  of  force  in  Massachusetts  until  confirmed  by  the  Colonial 
Legislature  ;  that  the  lives  of  the  Commissioners  were  in  danger, — 
that  they  were  insulted  and  obliged  to  leave  the  country  in  disgrace. 
A  writ  of  Quo  Warranto  was  issued,  and  thus  ended  the  first 
Charter  of  Massachusetts,  Oct.  23,  1684. 

The  powers  of  government  contained  in  this  instrument  have 
been  differently  interpreted,  and  the  primary  cause  of  the  dissen- 
tions  between  England  and  her  American  colonies,  during  the 
whole  period  of  the  existance  of  those  relations,  was  the  debata- 
ble ground  between  her  imperial  and  their  municipal  rights. 
Alternate  inroads  on  either  side  were  kept  up,  which  naturally 
ended  by  bringing  into  collision  the  forces  of  each  people,  and 
involving  them  at  length  in  an  implacable  war,  which  commenced 
at  Lexington  and  ended  at  Yorktown. 

A  duplicate  of  this  Charter  was  sent  over,  in  1629,  to  Governor 
Endicott  at  Salem,  and  is  now  in  the  Salem  AthenEeum. 


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Fac-Similes  of  the  First  Massachusetts  Charter. 


tH 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  53 

THE  HUTCHINSON  HOUSE. 

The  picture  of  the  stately  mansion  here  given  is  a  correct  rep- 
resentation of  the  Hutchinson  House  in  the  North  Square.  It 
was  prominent  as  the  house  attacked  by  the  mob  in  1765,  and  was 
taken  down  fifty  years  ago — 1834.  It  served  as  the  residence  of 
the  Hutchinson  family,  viz.  Col.  Thomas  Hutchinson  and  his  son 
Governor  Hutchinson  from  the  year  1711  to  1774,  when  the  lat- 
ter left  for  England,  where  he  died  1780 — The  house  was  built  by 
Col.  John  Foster,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  a 
gentleman  who  was  born  at  Ayelsboro,  in  Buckinghamshire,  Eng- 
land and  came  to  Boston  as  early  as  1675,  where  he  became  a  rich 
merchant  and  resided  on  Charter  Street,  at  the  corner  of  what  is 
now  called  Foster  Street,  formerly  a  lane  leading  from  his  house 
to  his  wharf  on  Commercial  Street.  He  was  very  active  in  the 
Andros  troubles,  was  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Council  and 
Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas  Court,  from  1693  to  1711.  Hutch- 
inson  says  most  of  the  public  documents  of  that  period  were  in 
his  handwriting.  Many  of  the  principal  citizens  of  the  north  part 
of  the  town  became  connected  with  his  family  in  various  ways  and 
a  slight  account  of  his  connections  is  requisite  to  understand  the 
history  of  this  house  in  question.  Colonel  Foster  purchased  of 
Richard  Wharton  in  1686  a  piece  of  ground  on  the  N.  W.  side  of 
the  North  Square,  where  he  erected  the  house  here  represented 
and  where  he  resided  until  his  death  in  1711 — he  died  intestate, 
he  married  previous  to  1677,  his  first  wife  being  the  daughter  of 
Daniel  Turell,  a  prominent  landholder  of  that  day,  being  the 
grantor  to  the  town  of  Boston  of  the  land  ever  since  occupied  as 
the  Cemetry  of  Copps  Hill.  The  second  wife  of  Col.  Foster  was 
the  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Hawkins,  whom  Gov.  Winthrop  men- 
tions as  being  lost  on  the  coast  of  Spain,  in  a  shipwreck  in  1648. 
Capt.  Hawkin's  second  daughter  became  the  second  wife  of  Col. 
Elisha  Hutchinson,  grandson  of  the  celebrated  Ann  Hutchinson, 
and  had  no  children.  Col.  Foster  died  intestate  in  1711,  and  his 
large  property  was  divided  into  three  parts,  $  to  the  widow,  and 
$  to  each  of  his  daughters.  Mrs.  Foster  died  two  months  after  her 
husband,  leaving  by  will  the  bulk  of  her  estate,  including  this 
house  to  her  nephew  Col.  Thomas  Hutchinson,  the  father  of  the 
Governor  who  occupied  it,  (the  two  father  and  son)  occupying  it 
more  than  sixty  years. 


54  ANTIQUE  VIEW 8  OF  BOSTON. 

Col.  Thomas  Hutchinson  was  a  descendant  of  William  Hutch- 
inson and  his  famous  wife,  "that  woman  of  ready  wit  and  bold 
spirit,"  more  than  a  match  for  her  reverend  and  magisterial  in- 
quisitors. He  was  a  wealthy  merchant  and  councillor,  who  made 
his  native  town  a  sharer  in  his  prosperity  by  founding  the  North 
End  Grammar  School.  His  son,  the  future  governor,  was  born 
in  this  house,  which,  upon  the  death  of  his  father  in  1739,  became 
his,  and  here  he  remained  while  in  office,  the  only  one  of  the  pro- 
vincial Governors  who  did  not  inhabit  the  Province  House,  alleg- 
ing that  he  had  a  better  house  of  his  own,  an  assertion  amply 
justified,  if  we  can  believe  Lydia  Maria  Child's  account  of  it, 
who  describes  the  mansion  in  the  ' '  Eebels  "  as  follows  :  ' '  The 
house  was  of  brick,  painted  a  neutral  tint,  and  was  ornamented 
in  front  with  four  Corinthian  pilasters.  One  of  the  capitals  of 
these  is  now  in  the  Mass.  Historical  Library.  The  Crown  of 
Britian  surmounted  each  window.  The  hall  entrance  displayed  a 
spacious  arch  from  the  roof  of  which  a  dimly  lighted  lamp  gave 
a  rich  twilight  view.  The  finely  carved  and  gilded  arch  in  massive 
magnificence  was  most  tastefully  ornamented  with  busts  and 
statues.  The  light  streamed  full  on  the  soul-beaming;  countenance 
of  Cicero,  and  playfully  flickered  on  the  brow  of  Tulliola.  The 
panelling  of  the  parlor  was  of  the  dark,  richly  shaded  mahogany 
of  St.  Domingo,  and  ornamented  with  the  same  elaborate  skill  as 
the  hall  just  quitted.  The  busts  of  George  III.  and  his  youug 
queen  were  placed  in  front  of  a  splendid  mirror  with  bronze 
lamps  on  each  side  covered  with  beautiful  transparencies,  one  rep- 
resenting the  destruction  of  the  Spanish  Armada,  the  other  giv- 
ing a  fine  view  of  a  fleet  of  line  of  battle  ships,  drawn  up  before 
the  Rock  of  Gibraltar.  On  either  side  of  the  room  were  arches 
surmounted  with  the  arms  of  England.  The  library  was  hung 
with  tapestry,  representing  the  cornation  of  George  II.,  inter- 
spersed with  the  royal  arms.  The  portraits  of  Anne  and  the 
Georges,  hung  in  massive  frames  of  antique  splendor,  and  the 
crowded  shelves  were  surmounted  with  busts  of  the  house  of 
Stuart.  In  the  centre  of  the  apartment  stood  a  table  of  polished 
oak.  The  garden  of  the  old  mansion  extended  back  to  Hanover 
and  to  Fleet  streets. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  57 

Here  Lieut. -Governor  Hutchinson  surrounded  himself  with  his 
books  and  works  of  art ;  here  he  collected  precious  manuscripts 
and  compiled  his  interesting  History ;  and  here,  on  the  night  of 
the  26th  of  August,  1765,  he  was  sought  by  an  infuriated  mob, 
and  would  have  been  assassinated  but  for  his  daughter's  devotion. 
His  house  was  sacked  and  his  rich  furniture  of  all  lands  destroyed, 
and  his  priceless  manuscripts  scattered  to  the  winds.  It  is  impos- 
sible to  estimate  the  great  loss  this  was  to  the  history  of  the  coun- 
try. A  few  years  more  of  contention,  and  this  courtly  represen- 
tative of  an  ancient  and  honorable  family,  this  sincere  lover  of  his 
country,  this  patient  student  of  her  history,  this  skillful  man  of 
affairs,  this  persuasive  speaker,  this  upright  and  merciful  judge, 
once  so  beloved,  unable  to  discern  or  unwilling  to  adopt  the  course 
of  the  revolutionists,  hindered  perhaps  by  his  great  possessions, 
preferring  to  remain  on  the  side  that  represented  law  and  author- 
ity, and  so  drew  upon  himself  the  wrath  of  his  fellow  townsmen, 
fled  from  his  native  country  and  died  a  broken-hearted  exile,  look- 
ing fondly  back  to  bis  birth-place  in  sunny  Garden  Court  street. 
After  Hutchinson's  departure,  the  estate  was  confiscated,  and  like 
other  confiscated  property  to  which  the  title  was  not  considered 
good,  it  was  sold  for  a  mere  song  to  Mr.  William  Little,  a  re- 
spectable merchant,  whose  family  remained  there  till  its  downfall. 
General  John  P.  Boyd,  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Little's,  lived  in  this 
house  for  some  years.  He  was  a  soldier  of  fortune  who,  eaidy  in 
life,  had  served  the  native  East  India  princes  with  a  force  raised 
by  himself,  and  brought  home  his  pay  in  the  concrete  form  of  a 
cargo  of  saltpetre,  as  tradition  reported,  and  later  in  life  distin- 
guished himself  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  was  naval  officer  of 
Boston  in  1830. 

This  engraving  was  reproduced  from  the  American  Magazine 
for  February,  1836. 


58  ANTIQUE  VIEW 8  OF  BOSTON. 

THE    FRANKLAND    HOUSE. 

This  House,  formerly  known  as  the  Clark  House,  and,  during 
the  later  years  of  its  existence,  as  the  Frankland  House,  from 
Sir  Henry  Frankland  who  was  once  its  owner,  was  situated  in 
North  Square,  on  the  corner  of  Garden  Court  and  Prince  street. 
The  Clark-Frankland  House  was  a  monument  of  human  pride. 
In  all  colonial  Boston  there  was  not  its  peer,  and  it  was  without 
doubt  built  to  outvie  that  of  Hutchinson,  Clark's  wealthy  next-door 
neighbor,  Fenimore  Cooper,  the  novelest,  visited  the  Frank- 
land  House  and  examined  it  minutely  before  he  wrote  ' '  Lionel 
Lincoln,"  in  which  the  house  is  described  as  the  residence  of  Mrs. 
Lechmere  and  located  on  Tremont  street. 

It  was  a  well-proportioned  house,  built  of  brick,  of  three  stories 
in  height,  looking  down  upon  its  two-storied  neighbor,  an  inten- 
tional oversight,  with  a  gambrel  roof  crowned  by  a  balustrade. 
The  front  was  relieved  by  a  row  of  dormer  windows,  by  a  modil- 
lioned  cornice,  by  string  courses  between  each  story,  and  by  the 
richly  carved  pediment  and  pilasters  of  the  door-way.  Passing 
through  the  door,  you  entered  a  hall  of  hospitable  width,  running 
from  front  to  rear,  spanned  by  an  arch  midway.  The  front  hall, 
lighted  by  windows  on  either  side  of  the  door,  gave  acces3  to  the 
front  parlors  ;  the  rear  hall,  leading  to  the  sitting-room  and  kitch- 
en, was  lighted  by  a  tall  arched  window  over  the  stairs. 

The  hall  with  its  balustraded  stair-case,  the  parlors  and  cham- 
bers with  their  pannelled  walls,  their  deep  window-seats,  their 
chimney-pieces  flanked  by  arched  and  pilastered  alcoves — all  were 
in  just  proportion  and  with  the  classic  details  handed  down  from 
the  days  of  good  Queen  Anne  or  Dutch  "William.  So  far,  the 
house,  within  and  without,  was  only  a  fine  specimen  of  the  man- 
sions of  wealthy  citizens  of  the  provincial  period  in  and  around 
Boston.  The  feature  which  distinguished  it  from  its  neighbors 
was  the  rich,  elaborate  and  peculiar  decoration  of  the  north  parlor 
on  the  right  of  the  entrance  hall.  Opposite  the  door  was  the 
ample  fire-place  with  its  classic  mantelpiece,  a  basket  of  flowers 
and  scroll-work  in  relief  upon  its  frieze.  On  the  right  of  the 
chimney  piece  was  an  arched  alcove,  lighted  by  a  narrow  window ; 
on  the  left  an  arched  buffet  with  a  vaulted  ceiling.  The  other 
three  walls  were  divided  into  compartments  by  fluted  pilasters  of 
the  Corinthian  order,  which  suppoiled  the  entablatures  with  its 
dentilled  cornice.     The  flutings  and  capitals  of  the  pilasters,  the 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  61 

dentils  of  the  cornice,  the  vault  and  shelves  of  the  buffet,  were 
all  heavily  gilded.  So  far,  as  before  mentioned,  it  was  only  a 
rich  example  of  the  prevalent  style. 

The  peculiar  decoration  consisted  of  a  series  of  raised  panels 
filling  these  compartments,  reaching  from  the  surbase  to  the  frieze, 
eleven  in  all,  each  embellished  with  a  romantic  landscape  painted 
in  oil  colors,  the  four  panels  opposite  the  windows  being  further 
enriched  by  the  emblazoned  escutcheons  of  the  Clarks,  the  Sal- 
tonstalls,  and  other  allied  families.  Beneath  the  surbase,  the 
panels,  as  also  those  of  the  door,  were  covered  with  arabesques. 
The  twelfth  painting  was  a  view  of  the  house  upon  a  horizontal 
panel  over  the  mantel,  from  which  this  engraving  was  made  by 
the  Photo-Electrotype  process,  and  beneath  this  panel,  inscribed 
in  an  oval,  was  the  monogram  of  the  builder,  W.  C.  At  the  base 
of  the  gilded  and  fluted  vault  of  the  buffet  was  a  painted  dove. 
The  floor  was  inlaid  with  divers  woods  in  multiform  patterns.  In 
the  center,  surrounded  by  a  border,  emblazoned  in  proper  colors, 
was  the  escutcheon  of  the  Clarks,  with  its  three  white  swans. 

The  mere  enumeration  of  the  details  fails  to  give  an  idea  of  the 
impression  made  by  this  painted  and  gilded  parlor,  not  an  inch  of 
whose  surface  but  had  been  elaborated  by  painter,  gilder,  carver 
or  artist,  to  which  the  blazoner  had  added  heraldic  emblems ;  so 
that,  as  you  looked  round  these  walls,  the  romantic  ruins  and 
castles  seemed  placed  there  to  suggest,  if  not  to  portray,  the  old 
homes  of  a  long  line  of  ancestors,  and  the  escutcheons  above  to 
confirm  the  suggestion,  thereby  enhancing  the  splendor  of  the 
present  by  the  feudal  dignity  of  an  august  past. 

The  house  was  erected  by  the  Hon.  William  Clark,  Esq.,  a 
wealthy  merchant  and  councillor.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been 
built  about  1712-1715,  for  the  land  was  purchased  of  Ann  Hobby, 
widow,  and  several  other  heirs,  December  10,  1711,  for  £725 
current  money.  If  so,  Councillor  Clark  lived  many  years  to 
enjoj7  the  sumptuousness  of  his  new  house  and  the  envy  of  his 
neighbors.  His  death,  in  1742,  was  attributed  by  some  to  the 
loss  of  forty  sail  of  vessels  in  the  French  war.  After  his  death 
the  estate  was  conveyed  to  his  son-in-law,  Deacon  Thomas  Green- 
ough,  for  £1,400,  old  tenor,  and  was  by  him  sold  to  Sir  Charles 
Henry  Frankland,  Bart.,  for  £1,200  sterling.  Sir  Harry  Frank- 
land,  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  heir  to  an  ample  fortune,  and, 
what  added  to  his  interest  here,  a  descendant  in  the  fourth  gener- 


62  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

ation  from  Oliver  Cromwell,  came  to  this  country  in  1741,  as  Col- 
lector of  the  port  of  Boston,  preferring  that  office  to  the  Govern- 
orship of  Massachusetts,  the  alternative  oifered  him  by  George  II. 
Upon  an  official  visit  to  Marblehead,  he  was  struck  by  the  radiant 
beauty  of  a  young  girl  of  sixteen,  maid-of-all-work  at  the  village 
inn,  bare-legged,  scrubbing  the  floor ;  inquired  her  name,  and, 
upon  a  subsequent  visit,  with  the  consent  of  her  parents,  conveyed 
her  to  Boston  and  placed  her  at  the  best  school.  The  attachment 
he  conceived  for  her  appears  to  have  been  returned,  though  Sir 
Charles  did  not  offer  her  marriage.  The  connection  between  this 
high  official  and  his  fair  protege  causing  scandal,  Frankland  pur- 
chased some  500  acres  of  land  in  Hopkinton,  which  he  laid  out 
and  cultivated  with  taste,  built  a  stately  country-house  and  exten- 
sive farm  buildings,  and  there  entertained  all  the  gay  companions 
he  could  collect  with  deer  and  fox  hunts  without,  with  music  and 
feasting  within  doors,  duly  attending  the  church  of  his  neighbor, 
the  Rev.  Roger  Price,  late  of  King's  Chapel,  Boston,  of  which 
Frankland  had  been,  from  his  arrival,  a  member.  Called  to 
England  by  the  death  of  his  uncle,  whose  title  he  inherited  as 
fourth  baronet,  he  journeyed  to  Lisbon,  and  there,  upon  All- 
Saints  Day,  1755,  on  his  way  to  high  mass,  he  was  engulfed 
by  the  earthquake,  his  horses  killed,  and  he  would  have  perished 
miserably  but  for  his  discovery  and  rescue  by  the  devoted  Agnes. 
Grateful  and  penitent,  he  led  her  to  the  altar,  and  poor  Agnes 
Surriage,  the  barefooted  maid-of-all-work  of  the  inn  at  Marble- 
head,  was  translated  into  Lady  Agnes  Frankland. 

It  was  upon  Sir  Harry  Frankland's  return  from  Europe  in  1756 
that  he  became  the  owner  of  the  Clark  House,  lived  in  it  one 
short  year,  entertaining  continually,  with  the  assistance  of  his 
French  cook,  Thomas,  as  appears  by  frequent  entries  in  his  jour- 
nal ;  was  then  transferred  to  Lisbon  as  Consul  General,  and  so, 
with  the  exception  of  brief  visits  to  this  country  in  1759  and 
1763,  disappearing  from  our  horizon. 

After  his  death  at  Bath,  England,  in  1768,  his  widow  returned 
here,  but  not  until  she  had  recorded  her  husband's  virtues  upon 
a  monument  "erected  by  his  affectionate  widow,  Agnes,  Lady 
Frankland," — dividing  her  year  between  Boston  and  Hopkinton, 
exchanging  civilities  with  those  who  had  once  rejected  her,  till  the 
contest  with  England  rendered  all  loyalists  and  officials  unpopular. 
Defended  by  a  guard  of  six  soldiers,  Lady  Frankland  entered 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  63 

Boston  about  the  first  of  June,  1775  ;  witnessed  from  her  window 
in  Garden  Court  street  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  took  her  part  in 
relieving  the  suffering's  of  the  wounded  officers,  and  then  in  her  turn 
disappeared,  leaving  her  estates  in  the  hands  of  members  of  her 
family,  thereby  saving  them  from  confiscation,  which  was  the  fate 
of  her  neighbor  Hutchinson.  Upon  her  death  in  England  in  1782 
the  town  mansion  passed  by  her  will  to  her  family,  and  was  sold 
by  Isaac  Surriage  in  1811  for  $8000  to  Mr.  Joshua  Ellis,  a  retired 
North  End  merchant,  who  resided  there  till  his  death.  Upon  the 
widening  of  Bell  Alley,  in  1832,  these  two  proud  mansions  (the 
Frankland  and  Hutchinson  houses)  long  since  deserted  by  the 
families  whose  importance  they  were  erected  to  illustrate  and 
perpetuate,  objects  of  interest  to  the  poet,  the  artist,  and  the 
historian,  alike  for  their  associations  with  a  seemingly  remote  past, 
their  antique  splendor,  and  for  the  series  of  strange  romantic  inci- 
dents in  the  lives  of  their  successive  occupants,  were  ruthlessly 
swept  away. 


64  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

DALTON  MANSION. 

In  1756,  Captain  James  Dalton  purchased  an  estate  in  Boston 
lying  between  Water  and  Milk  streets.  At  the  time  of  the  pur- 
chase the  land  was  occupied  by  a  tan-yard,  garden,  dwelling  houses 
and  other  structures.     These  buildings  were  pulled  down. 

In  1758,  Captain  Dalton  built  upon  the  property  a  Mansion 
House,  which  was  occupied  by  himself  and  his  family  during  his 
life,  and  afterwards  by  his  son,  Peter  Roe  Dalton,  during  his  life. 
The  house  was  three  stories  high,  46  feet  long  and  20  feet  wide  ; 
the  back  wall  of  brick,  the  front  and  sides  of  framed  timber  and 
rough-cast ;  the  roof  sloping  towards  the  front  and  ends,  but 
without  slope  toward  the  rear,  where  it  was  supported  by  the  brick 
wall.     The  front  was  towards  the  eastward. 

Soon  after  its  completion,  a  new  street  (now  Congress  street) 
was  ordered  by  a  committee  of  the  General  Court  to  be  laid  out 
through  the  estate,  running  from  Water  to  Milk  streets.  This  was 
owing  to  the  rebuilding  of  that  part  of  the  town  after  the  "  great 
fire"  of  1760.  The  projected  street  was  partly  a  re-establishment 
of  the  old  "  Leverett's  Lane,"  which  ran  from  King  street  (now 
State)  to  about  the  middle  of  Water  street,  and  which  was  then 
ordered  to  be  continued  through  the  intervening  land  from  Water 
street  southwardly  to  Milk  street.  The  new  portion  of  the  street 
was  to  pass  through  Capt.  Dalton's  land,  east  of  his  dwelling- 
house,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  divide  it  very  unequally. 

In  1761,  Capt.  Dalton  addressed  a  memorial  to  the  General 
Court,  setting  forth  the  facts  and  praying  that  the  location  of  the 
new  street,  between  Water  and  Milk  streets,  might  be  moved 
farther  to  the  westward  in  his  estate  and  to  join  Milk  street  oppo- 
site Atkinson  (now  Congress) ,  and  furthermore  agreed  with  the 
Town  Treasurer  to  require  no  compensation  for  his  land  taken  for 
the  new  street,  and  also  with  Frances  Borland,  an  abuttor,  to  pay 
him  any  loss  he  might  suffer  by  the  alteration  if  the  change  was 
made.  The  street  was  laid  out  as  proposed  by  Capt.  Dalton,  and 
was  at  first  known  as  "  New  street,"  afterwards  called  "  Dalton's 
Lane,"  and  finally  "  Dalton  street,"  until  1800,  when  the  name  was 
changed  to  "  Congress  street." 

The  estate  is  now  owned  by  the  United  States,  and  is  covered 
by  the  New  Post  Office  and  Court  House. 

Capt.  Dalton,  in  his  early  life,  was  a  seafaring  man.  He  com- 
manded vessels  sailing   between  Boston  and  London  and  other 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  69 

foreign  ports,  and  subsequently  engaged  in  mercantile  and  shipping 
business,  trading  to  Southen  ports,  West  Indias,  Europe  and  the 
British  Provinces,  and  sending  his  sons  as  supercargoes  in  his  ships. 
He  died  April  21,  1783,  aged  65  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son,  Peter  Eoe  Dalton,  who,  during  the  Revolution,  was  Deputy 
Cornmissary-General  of  Supplies  of  Issue  in  the  Continental  Ser- 
vice. In  1782,  he  was  appointed  by  the  General  Court  on  the 
committee  for  settling  the  accounts  of  the  Board-of-War.  also  for 
adjusting  the  claims  consequent  upon  the  Penobscot  expedition  in 
1779.  He  was  afterwards  cashier  of  the  Massachusetts  Bank,  and 
subsequently  was  appointed  cashier  of  the  United  States  Branch 
Bank  in  Boston.  He  occupied  the  Mansion  until  his  death  in  1811, 
aged  68  years. 

OLD    HOUSE    ON    PRINCE    STREET. 

This  old  building  has  no  particular  historic  interest  connected 
with  it.  We  show  it  here  as  a  specimen  of  the  old  buildings  yet 
remaining  at  the  North  End.  It  is  reproduced  from  an  etching 
made  by  Darius  Cobb,  wTho  says:  "This  broken-down  piece  of 
antiquity  is  situated  on  the  corner  of  Prince  and  Margaret  streets. 
The  spectator  will  not  mistake  it  for  an  edifice  on  the  Back  Bay. 
The  aristocratic  eye  of  Nature,  however,  has  fashioned  it  to  delight 
the  seeker  of  picturesque  objects.  The  buildings  around  here  date 
far  back  of  the  Revolution,  its  rear  neighbor  claiming  the  start  of 
a  full  century.  Up  on  Margaret  street  'Mann  Shippen'  used  to 
put  bars  across  the  road  to  keep  her  cows  from  straying  out  of 
the  pasture  (Copp's  Hill) .  A  section  of  the  spire  of  Christ  Church 
is  seen  in  the  distance." 


70  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

THE  OLD   FEATHER  STOKE. 

Two  views  are  here  presented  of  the  old  Feather  Store.  The 
first  a  full  page  engraving  was  drawn  and  engraved  by  the 
Photo-  Electrotype  process,  from  a  painting  presented  to  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Historical  Society  in  1871,  by  "VV.  H.  "Whitmore ;  who 
painted  the  original  is  not  known  but  its  accuracy  of  outline  is  un- 
questioned. There  are  but  few  views  of  this  antique  structure  in 
existance  and  the  one  here  given  is  particularly  valuable  for  the 
street  view  and  surrounding  buildings  shown. 

The  "  Old  Cocked  Hat,"  or  the  "  Feather  Store"  as  it  was  more 
familiarly  known  stood  at  the  corner  formed  by  North  street  and 
Market  Square,  and  bore  the  date  of  its  erection  1680,  plainly  up- 
on the  gable  end  facing  Dock  Square,  until  the  whole  structure 
was  demolished  in  1860.  Its  name  "  Old  Cocked  Hat "  was  deriv- 
ed from  a  fancied  resemblance  to  the  cocked  hats  worn  during  the 
war  of  Independence.  Its  later  name  arose  from  the  fact  ot  its 
long  being  occupied  by  dealers  in  feathers,  a  bag  containing  which 
and  inscribed  "  Feathers"  will  be  seen  suspended  from  one  of  its 
windows  in  the  engraving.  The  building  was  of  wood,  covered 
with  plaster  on  the  outside,  with  which  were  mixed  fragments  of 
glass  bottles.  Numerous  ornamental  figures  were  traced  upon  this 
rough  surface.  On  two  sides,  south  and  south  west,  the  water 
once  flowed,  and  in  digging  not  far  from  here,  some  years  ago  to 
settle  a  disputed  boundary  question,  the  capstan  and  ring  bolt  of 
the  old  wharf  were  uncovered  within  the  present  sidewalk.  The 
second  view  of  this  venerable  building  is  taken  from  a  different 
point  of  observation  from  the  first  one.  The  drawing  was  made  a 
short  time  before  its  destruction  in  1860,  and  shows  the  building 
as  it  is  most  generally  remembered  by  the  present  generation. 

Snow  says  that  the  principal  apothecary  shop  of  the  town  was 
kept  here.  From  the  numerous  emblematic  and  other  long  signs 
shown  in  the  accompanying  full  page  engraving  there  is  no  doubt 
but  what  "  Thomas  Hollis,  Druggist  and  Apothecary,"  did  quite  a 
thriving  business. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEW S  OF  BOSTON. 


75 


JULIEN  S  RESTOKATOR. 

The  old  Julien  House  stood  at  the  corner  of  Milk  and  Congress 
Streets,  on  the  site  of  the  New  Post  Office,  and  must  ever  remain 
an  object  of  interest  to  all  gastronomers.  It  was  called  "  Julien's 
Restorator,"  and  was  the  first  establishment  noticed  with  this  dis- 
tinctive title  ;  all  the  rest  were  taverns  or  boarding  houses. 

M.  Jean  Baptiste  Julien  was  the  inventor  of  that  agreeable  pot- 
age  "  St.  Julien  Soup."  He  came  to  this  country  as  cook  to  the 
celebrated  Dubuque,  who  was  a  refugee  from  the  French  Revolu- 
tion. The  old  house  with  its  gables,  overhanging  upper  stories, 
and  huge  chimney,  was  taken  down  in  1824,  and  succeeded  by 
Julien,  afterward  Congress  Hall.  Its  site  was  once  a  tan-yard. 
After  M.  Julien's  death  in  1805,  his  widow  succeeded  him,  keep- 
ing the  house  for  ten  years.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been  built 
about  1760. 


JULIETS   RESTOKATOR. 

(Formerly  stood  at  the  comer  of  Milk  and  Congress  Streets,  on  the  site  of  the  new  Post  Office.) 

A  peculiar  fact  in  connection  with  this  site  is  that  the  buildings 
that  have  stood  upon  it  have  born  a  charmed  existence  in  the  midst 
of  two   of  the  greatest  fires  Boston  has  ever  experienced.     In 


76  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

March,  1760,  a  fire  broke  out  on  Cornhill  and  burned  nearly  every 
building,  south  of  that  locality  to  Long  Wharf  and  Fort  Hill. 
One  hundred  and  seventy-four  buildings  being  destroyed.  Julien's 
Eestorator  was  then  occupied  by  a  Mr.  Calfe  as  a  dwelling,  and  all 
the  houses  from  the  one  next  to  it  to  the  foot  of  Milk  street  were 
consumed.  In  the  great  fire  of  November,  1872,  the  New  Post 
Office  stood  like  a  bulwark  between  the  devouring  element  and  the 
buildings  back  of  it,  until  the  flames  had  spent  their  force. 

The  remains  of  this  noted  restaurateur  of  the  town — Monsieur 
Julien — lie  in  the  Central  Burying  Ground.  The  inscription  on 
the  stone  that  marks  his  resting  place  reads  : 

IN  MEMORY    OF 

MR.   JOHN    B.   JULIEN, 

WHO  DIED  JUNE  30TH.,  1805. 

AET.  52. 
In  hope  of  that  immortal  bliss, 
To  rise  and    reign  s\here  Jesus  is, 
His  flesh  in  peaceful  slumber  lies 
Till  tbe  last  trump  shall  sound,  arise  I 

There  are  those  who  think  that  this  famous  man  lived  many 
years  later,  undoubtedly,  because  the  widow  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness after  his  decease,  as  was  advertised  in  one  of  the  obituary 
notices  of  her  husband,  and  perhaps,  because  his  famous  soup  is 
not  yet  excluded  from  sumptuous  bills  of  fare  on  festive  oc- 
casions. 


THE  LAMB    TAVERN. 

The  Adams  House  on  Washington  street  now  stands  on  the  site 
of  the  famous  old  hostlery  the  Lamb  Tavern — sometimes  styled 
the  White  Lamb.  The  "Lamb  "was  an  unpretentious  building 
of  two  stories,  but  of  good  repute  in  Old  Boston.  The  sign  is 
noticed  as  early  as  1746.  Col.  Doty  kept  at  the  sign  of  the 
Lamb  in  1760  ;  Edward  Kingman  kept  it  in  1826,  after  which  it 
was  conducted  successively  by  Laban  Adams,  for  whom  the  house 
was  named,  father  of  "Oliver  Optic"  (W.  T.  Adams),  and  by 
A.  S.  Allen.  The  first  stage-coach  to  Providence,  advertised 
July  20,  1767,  by  Thomas  Sabin,  put  up  at  the  sign  of  the  Lamb. 

The  White  Horse  and  the  Lion  Taverns,  well  known  public  re- 
sorts, were  near  neighbors  of  the  Lamb. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


79 


TRIANGULAR    WAREHOUSE. 

This  quaint  looking  structure  stood  near  the  town  dock,  its  site 
now  being  occupied  by  the  building  at  the  head  of  North  Market 
Street,  with  a  moiety  in  Merchants'  Row  and  Clinton  Street  and 
was  opposite  the  swing  bridge.  It  measured  on  the  side  facing 
the  dock  forty-eight  feet ;  on  Eoebuck  passage  fifty-one  feet,  and 
on  the  rear  fifty-five  feet.  It  was  a  two  story  building,  with  stone 
toundaton.  and  had  a  good  cellar.  At  each  angle  and  in  the 
centre  there  was  a  tower,  each  terminating  in  a  pointed  roof  of 
slate,  and  were  capped  with  a  stone  ball  on  iron  spires  set  in  lead, 
except  the  middle  tower,  which  had  a  wooden  one. 


TRIANGULAR   WAREHOUSE. 

(Formerly  stood  at  the  head  of  North  Market  Street,  between  Merchant's  Row  and  Clinton  Street.) 

The  peculiar  architecture  of  the  building  and  the  fact  that  its 
history  was  shrouded  in  doubt  led  to  various  suppositions  as  to 
the  purpose  for  which  it  was  constructed.  Its  great  strength 
caused  many  too  think  it  was  built  for  a  fort  or  a  Custom  House, 
but  there  is  no  positive  evidence  of  such  being  the  case,   and  the 


80  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

general  supposition  is  that  it  was  built  by  London  merchants  for 
a  warehouse,  about  1700.  It  was  torn  down  in  August,  1824,  to 
make  way  for  the  improvements  then  inaugurated  in  that  locality. 
At  one  time  it  was  a  place  of  considerable  business  and  latterly 
the  public  scales  were  kept  there.  The  bricks  in  the  building 
were  of  larger  size  than  those  now  used  and  the  foundation  stood 
on  a  sandy  marsh.  The  engraving  here  given  of  the  building  was 
reproduced  by  the  Photo-Electrotype  Engraving  process  from 
Shaw's  History  of  Boston  1817.  Snow's  History  of  Boston, published 
in  1825,  contains  an  engraving  of  this  building,  which  shows 
many  alterations  in  the  first  story,  but  otherwise  is  the  same. 
Drake's  History  published  in  1876,  also  contains  a  cut  of  it  but 
shows  the  whole  building  reversed  ;  that  is  the  windows,  etc. ,  which 
are  on  the  right  in  Shaw's  and  Snow's  are  on  the  left  in  Drake's. 
This  is  probably  the  fault  of  the  engraver  and  has  led  us  to  give 
the  preference  to  the  works  published  at  or  about  the  time  the 
building  was  still  standing. 


S.  W.  VIEW    OF    THE    OLD    STATE    HOUSE. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  83 

THE   OLD   STATE   HOUSE. 

This  engraving  of  the  Old  State  House  is  one  of  the  best  views 
in  existence.  It  was  reproduced  from  the  Mass.  Magazine  for  1793, 
and  is  a  view  looking  down  State  street  from  Washington  street. 
"What  makes  it  especially  valuable  is  the  view  it  presents  of  the 
buildings  surrounding  it,  and  the  animated  appearance  of  the 
street,  with  its  numerous  vehicles,  horsemen  and  pedestrians, 
dressed  in  the  costumes  of  that  period. 

The  Mass.  Magazine  contained  the  following  description  of  the 
engraving  at  the  time  of  its  publication.  ' '  The  present  large  and 
elegant  Plate  exhibits  a  superb  S.  W.  view  of  the  State  House, 
with  the  sketch  of  several  capital  buildings  improved  by  mer- 
chants of  eminence.  The  busy  scenes  of  life  which  are  daily  act- 
ing on  this  populous  theatre  of  general  resort,  are  strongly  deli- 
neated by  the  various  groups  of  industrious  citizens  passing  to  and 
fro,  on  horse  back,  afoot  or  in  carriages.  The  shipping,  discov- 
ered at  a  distance,  whose  towering  masts  appear  like  a  rising  for- 
est, has  a  peculiarly  fine  effect,  and  the  tout  ensemble  forms  the  fi- 
nest view  that  we  have  ever  offered  to  our  generous  patrons." 

The  smaller  reproduction  of  the  Old  State  House,  presented  in 
this  collection  was  published  in  the  Mass.  Magazine  in  1791,  only 
two  years  earlier  and  is  virtually  the  same  view,  the  only  diffier- 
ence  of  moment,  being  that  the  larger  one  embraces  more  of  the 
surroundings  and  is  fuller  in  details. 

The  Old  State  House  stands  on  the  site  of  the  first  Townhouse, 
prior  to  the  building  of  which  it  was  a  market  place,  the  earliest 
in  the  town.  The  Townhouse  was  erected  between  1657  and  '59 
of  wood.  It  was  destroyed  in  the  great  fire  of  1711.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  1712,  a  brick  edifice  was  erected  on  the  same  spot. 
This  the  fire  of  1747,  consumed  and  with  it  many  valuable  records 
were  lost.  The  present  State  House  was  erected  the  following 
year  1748,  but  it  has  undergone  many  interior  changes,  the  exte- 
rior however  presenting  nearly  the  same  appearance  as  when  first 
erected.  From  1750  to  1830  Faneiul  Hall  was  used  as  a  town 
house,  and  the  first  city  government  was  organized  there.  In 
1830  the  city  government  removed  to  the  old  State  House  which 
was,  on  Sept.  17,  dedicated  as  the  City  Hall.  After  the  Revolu- 
tion it  became  the  place  of  meeting  of  the  Legislature,  and  has 
ever  since  been  called  the  old  State  House  ;  the  General  Court  of 
the  Commonwealth  was  also  established  here  at  this  time.     In 


84  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

1798.  tne  legislature  moved  to  the  new  State  House,  ou  Beacon 
Hill.  In  1768  it  was  used  as  a  barrack  for  British  troops  ;  in  1838 
the  United  States  Post  Office,  and  for  many  years  as  the  Mer- 
chants' Exchange.  The  Convention  that  ratified  the  United  States 
Constitution  met  here  before  adjourning  to  the  Federal  Street 
church.  The  Boston  Massacre  occurred  in  front  of  its  doors. 
In  it  Samuel  Adams  said  "  Independence  was  born."  In  Octo- 
ber 1789,  Washington  received  the  homage  of  the  people  from  a 
temporary  balcony  at  the  west  end. 

The  roof  and  steeple  have  undergone  material  changes,  the  lat- 
ter was  considerably  higher  at  one  time  than  now.  A  sun-dial, 
which  formerly  adorned  the  eastern  gable  has  been  superseded  by 
a  clock ;  at  each  end  of  the  edifice  were  carved  figures  of  the  lion 
and  unicorn.  In  the  17th  Century,  the  whipping  post  was  near 
by.  The  news  of  the  death  of  George  II.,  and  the  accession  of 
George  HI.,  and  in  1776,  the  Declaration  of  Independence  were 
read  from  the  balcony.  During  the  Stamp  Act  excitement  in  1766 
the  mob  burned  stamped  clearences  in  front  of  the  building. 

Gens.  Howe,  Clinton  and  Gage  held  a  council  of  war  in  the 
building  before  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  In  1778  the  Count 
d'  Estaing  was  here  received  by  Gov.  Hancock,  and  here  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  State  was  planned. 

On  the  widening  of  Devonshire  street,  a  few  years  ago,  it  was 
almost  decided  to  destroy  this  venerable  building,  but  Boston  was 
saved  from  this  act  of  vandalism  chiefly  through  the  efforts  of 
"William  H.  Whitmore.  This  gentleman  also  secured  the  appro- 
priation from  the  city  of  $35,000  for  the  purpose  of  restoring  the 
building  to  as  near  its  original  condition  as  it  was  possible  to  make 
it,  which  he  did,  even  to  replacing  the  lion  and  unicorn.  The 
second  story  of  the  building,  which  was  used  in  the  Provincial 
period  as  the  Council  Chamber  and  Representatives'  Hall,  has 
been  reserved  from  business  purposes,  and  is  confided  to  the  cus- 
tody of  the  "Bostonian  Society,"  that  it  may  be  used  for  the  pur- 
pose of  a  historical  museum,  where  may  be  deposited  such  relics 
of  the  Colonial  and  Revolutionary  eras  as  may  be  entrusted  to 
their  care.  The  halls,  while  occupied  by  this  society,  are  to  re- 
main open  and  free  to  the  public. 


S.  W.  View  of  the  Old  State  House. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  87 

THE   NEW   STATE   HOUSE. 

Our  first  view  of  the  New  State  House  is  reproduced  from  Shaw's 
History  of  Boston,  1817,  and  is  one  of  the  earliest  prints  made  of 
the  building.  The  second  is  from  Snow's  History  of  Boston,  1825, 
and  shows  clearly  the  Hancock  residence  with  a  portion  of  the  com- 
mon, the  frog  pond  and  Old  Elm  in  the  foreground. 

The  State  House,  or  "  the  hub  of  the  solar  system,"  stands  on 
the  summit  of  Beacon  Hill,  the  most  commanding  situation  in  the 
city,  on  a  lot  which  was  formerly  Gov.  Hancock's  cow  pasture. 
Near  the  site  of  this  building  stood  the  old  beacon,  which  gave  the 
name  to  Beacon  Hill.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  in  1795,  and  the 
oration  was  delivered  by  Gov.  Samuel  Adams.  The  customary 
Masonic  ceremonies  were  conducted  by  Paul  Revere,  grand  master. 
The  original  cost  of  the  building  was  $133,000,  but  several  expen- 
sive additions  and  improvements  have  since  been  made.  The  north 
side  was  added  in  1852  ;  and  the  dome  was  gilded  in  1874,  pro- 
ducing a  fine  effect.  It  was  first  occupied  in  1798,  bythe  "  Great 
and  General  Court,"  when  the  Old  State  House  was  abandoned. 

The  building  is  oblong,  measuring  173  by  61  feet.  Its  height, 
including  the  dome,  110  feet,  and  the  lantern  is  about  220  feet 
above  the  sea  level.  The  main  entrance  is  reached  by  a  succession 
of  stone  terraces  from  Beacon  street.  Two  fountains  and  two 
bronze  statues,  one  of  Daniel  "Webster  and  the  other  of  Horace 
Mann,  ornament  the  turfed  terrace  in  front  of  the  building.  It 
contains  several  statues  and  many  relics,  and  geological  specimens 
of  interest,  together  with  fossils,  birds,  animals,  insects,  and  shells. 
For  the  sake  of  the  view,  which  is  very  extensive  and  gives  a  good 
general  idea  of  the  topography  of  the  city,  visitors  to  the  number 
of  50,000  per  annum  climb  the  170  steps  leading  to  the  cupola 
that  surmounts  the  gilded  dome.  The  building  was  designed  by 
Charles  Bulfinch  who  also  designed  our  national  capitol. 

In  the  Senate  Chamber  are  portraits  of  the  old  Colonial  govern- 
ors :  Endicott,  Winthrop,  Leverett,  Bradstreet  and  Burnett.  A 
fine  portrait  of  Governor  Sumner  hangs  over  the  President's 
chair.  There  are  also  portraits  of  Francis  Higginson,  first  minis- 
ter of  Salem,  and  of  Robert  Rantoul.  On  the  front  of  the  gallery 
are  some  interesting  relics  of  the  battle  of  Bennington,  presented 
by  General  John  Stark.  They  are  a  musket,  drum,  a  heavy  troop- 
er's sword  and  grenadier's  cap  with  the  curious  conical  brass  plate, 
on  which,  as  well  as  the  brass  plate  of  the  drum,  is  embossed  the 


88  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

emblematic  horse  of  the  Duchy  of  Westphalia.  Underneath  is 
the  letter  of  acceptance,  written  by  order  of  the  General  Assembly, 
and  signed  by  Jeremiah  Powell,  President  of  the  Council.  Besides 
these  are  two  old  firelocks,  bequeathed  to  the  State  by  Rev. 
Theodore  Parker.  One  of  them  has  the  makers  name  on  the  lock- 
plate,  "  Grice,  1762,"  and  an  inscription  on  the  butt  as  follows  : 

"THE  FIRST  FIRE-ARM 

CAPTURED  IN  THE 

WAR  FOR  INDEPENDENCE." 

The  other  is  more  antiquated  in  appearance.  It  has  the  donors 
name  on  the  lock-plate,  and  an  inscription  on  the  breech  which 
reads : 

THIS  FIRE-ARM  WAS  USED  BY 

CAPT.  JOHN  PARKER 

IN  THE  BATTLE  OF  LEXINGTON, 

APRIL  19th, 

'775- 

In  the  Hall  of  Representatives  will  be  found  the  ancient  cod-fish, 
suspended  from  the  ceiling — an  emblem  of  the  by  gone  importance 
of  the  cod  to  the  state. 

In  the  rotunda  of  the  building  there  is  a  fine  collection  of  bat- 
tle flags  carried  by  Massachusett's  soldiers  in  the  late  war. 

In  1889  the  State's  business  having  outgrown  the  building,  the 
Legislature  authorized  the  construction  of  the  "State  House 
Extension  "  in  the  rear  of  the  original  building.  The  extension  is 
of  yellow  brick,  with  trimmings  of  white  marble.  Its  design  was 
intended  to  harmonize  with  that  of  Bulfinch.  The  entrance  halls 
of  the  State  House  are  magnificent  apartments  of  marble,  the  inte- 
rior one,  admitting  by  splendid  staircases  to  the  legislative  halls 
above,  heing  particularly  imposing.  The  interior  of  the  extension 
is  pleasant,  cheerful,  well-ventilated,  and  for  the  most  part  conven- 
ient. It  is  occupied  by  the  various  administrative  and  executive 
departments  of  the  Commonwealth  and  includes  two  large  hand- 
some halls,  that  of  the  House  of  Representatives  and  the  State 
Library,  besides  various  legislative  committee  rooms,  etc.  The 
Senate  remains  in  the  old  building.  Grounds  of  considerable 
extent  have  been  taken  east  of  the  State  House  to  form  open  gar- 
dens. These  have  a  fine  outlook  and  are  adorned  with  two  monu- 
ments, one  to  General  Charles  Devens,  who  fought  in  the  Civil 
War,  the  other  a  lofty  granite  column  built  by  the  Bunker  Hill 
Monument  Association  in  1898,  and  being  a  reproduction  of  the 
brick  and  stone  monument  designed  by  Charles  Bulfinch  and  which 
was  removed  in  1811  when  the  hill  was  cut  down.  The  four 
tablets  at  its  base  are  the  original  ones  from  the  old  monument. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


93 


FRANKLINS   BIRTH    PLACE. 

The  quaint  looking  structure  here  presented  as  the  birth  place 
of  Boston's  most  distinguished  citizen  Benjamin  Franklin — was 
reproduced  by  the  Photo-Electrotype  Engraving  process,  from  an 
engraving  in  Shaw's  History  of  Boston.  It  stood  on  the  site  of 
the  Boston  Daily  Post  building,  on  Milk  Street,  until  destroyed  by 
fire  on  December  29,  1810,  shortly  after  a  drawing  had  been  se- 
cured. 


BIRTH    PLACE    OF   FRANKLIN. 

(Formerly  stood  on  the  site  of  the  Boston  Daily  Post  building  on  Milk  Street.) 

Josiah,  the  father  of  Benjamin,  became  a  tenant  of  this  build- 
ing it  is  thought  about  1685,  continuing  to  occupy  it  until  1712, 
and,  as  Benjamin  was  born  on  the  6th  of  January,  1706,  and  is 
upon  the  Old  South  church  records  as  having  received  baptism 
the  same  day,  upon  this  is  founded  the  claim  of  the  old  house  as 
the  place  of  his  nativity. 

Franklin's  own  statement,  to  a  person  worthy  of  credit,  was 
that  he  was  born  at  the  south-east  corner  of  Union  and  Hanover 


94  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

Streets,  while  other  evidence  goes  to  contradict  it.  That  his  early 
youth  was  passed  here  is  certain. 

The  Hanover-Union  Street  building  was  quite  small  and  of  two 
stories,  to  which  a  third  was  added  in  latter  times.  It  was  parti- 
ally destroyed  by  fire  in  1858,  and  in  the  same  year  the  city  tore 
it  down  in  the  widening  of  Union  Street.  When  Hanover  Street 
was  widened  the  old  site  was  partially  taken  for  that.  It  was  the 
intention  of  the  owner  to  have  removed  the  Franklin  building  to 
another  location  but  it  was  found  impracticable.  Two  relics  of  it, 
however,  are  preserved.  The  blue  ball,  the  sign  used  by  his 
father,  as  a  tallow  chandler,  is  in  the  possession  of  the  family  of 
the  late  General  Ebenezer  W.  Stone,  of  Boston,  and  a  chair,  made 
from  the  original  timbers,  was  presented  to  the  Mechanic  Charitable 
Association. 

The  Milk  Street  building,  here  represented,  fronted  upon  the 
street,  was  rudely  clapboarded,  and  the  sides  and  rear  were  pro- 
tected from  the  weather  by  large  rough  shingles.  On  the  street 
it  measured  about  twenty  feet,  and  on  the  sides  including  a  kit- 
chen about  thirty  feet.  The  fire  by  which  it  was  destroyed  was 
communicated  to  it  by  a  livery  stable.  It  was  at  this  time  that 
the  Old  South  meeting  house  had  such  a  narrow  escape  from  des- 
truction and  was  saved  by  the  exertions  of  our  late  fellow-citizen, 
Isaac  Harris,  Esq.,  for  which  he  received  a  silver  testimonial. 

The  portrait  on  the  following  page  was  reproduced  from  a  steel 
engraving,  illustrating  Poor  Kichards  Proverbs  :  the  portrait  and 
illustration  being  printed  all  on  one  sheet.  This  portrait  is  con- 
sidered to  be  an  excellent  likeness  of  Franklin. 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN. 


96  ANTIQUE   VIEWS   OF  BOSTON. 


THE   HOME    OF   COTTON   MATHER. 

On  Hanover  street  near  the  corner  of  Prince  street  stood  the 
building  in  which  Cotton  Mather  lived  for  thirty  years.  In  1882 
it  was  taken  down  and  the  present  structure  erected,  on  the  front 
of  which  is  the  inscription,  "  Miller  1882,"  this  being  the  name  of 
the  present  owner  of  the  site  on  which  the  Mather  home  stood  for 
two  hundred  and  twenty-five  years.  No  one  knew  where  the  site 
of  the  Cotton  Mather  house  was  till  the  writer,  after  months  of 
research  in  the  Registry  of  Deeds  and  Probate  Court,  obtained  the 
folloAving  information  which  located  it : 

John  Gallop  was  the  first  grantee  of  the  land  on  which  Cotton 
Mather's  home  stood.  The  section  or  locality  was  known  as  Gal- 
lop's Point.  Gallop  disposed  of  it  to  John  Sunderland,  who  cut  it 
up  into  building  lots  about  1650.  The  first  owner  of  the  Cotton 
Mather  lot  was  John  Mayo,  and  as  there  is  no  deed  showing 
how  Mayo  became  possessed  of  it,  it  is  probable  that  Sunderland 
gave  him  the  lot  to  build  his  house  on,  when  in  1655,  on  account 
of  some  difference  and  dissent,  he  left  his  church  at  Nausett  in 
Plymouth  and  was  ordained  the  first  pastor  of  the  Second  Church 
or  Old  North  in  November,  1655.  In  1672,  being  old  and  infirm, 
he  resigned  his  pastorate  and  removed  to  Barnstable  in  1673. 
He  then  sold  his  home  to  Abraham  Gording,  a  sea  captain,  for 
the  sum  of  £200.  The  house  is  described  as  being  at  the  "North- 
erly end  of  Boston  fronting  upon  the  Middle  street  leading  from  ye 
water  mill."  Lying  in  breadth  on  said  street  thirty-eight  feet  more 
or  less  and  in  depth  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet,  signed  March 
24,  1673.  Gording  retained  possession  of  these  premises  fifteen 
years,  and  then  conveys  it  to  Cotton  Mather  for  £200,  July  25, 
1688.  Cotton  Mather  owned  this  estate  for  thirty  years  during 
the  most  important  period  of  his  life,  and  it  was  here  that  his  most 
noted  works  were  written.  On  June  6,  1718,  he  disposed  of  it  to 
Joseph  Turill,  a  sea  captain,  for  £500  current  money  of  New  Eng- 
land, probably  paper  money  of  a  depreciated  value.  In  1741 
Turill  mortgaged  it  to  James  Bowdoin  for  the  sum  or  quantity  of 
four  hundred  and  ninety-four  ounces  five  pennyweights  Troy 
weight  of  coined  silver  sterling  alloy.  This  was  the  era  of  paper 
money,  and  our  ancestors,  it  would  appear,  had  as  great  a  dread 
of  it  as  their  descendants  have  to-day. 

Joseph  Turill  had  possession  of  these  premises  for  thirty-one 
years,  for  on  Dec.  23,  1749,  he  sold  it  to  Owen  Harris,  the  school- 


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ANTIQUE   VIEWS   OF  BOSTON.  97 

master,  for  <£  3,300  in  good  bills  of  credit.  Harris  owned  this 
estate  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1761.  He  bequeathed  his  house, 
which  was  valued  in  the  inventory  at  £400,  to  his  wife ;  his  pew  in 
the  North  Church  and  his  negro  man  Cato  he  ordered  to  be  sold 
and  turned  into  money  to  pay  other  legatees  with.  His  wife  lived 
thirty-two  years  after  his  death,  during  which  time  she  occupied 
these  premises.  She  died  in  1793,  and  by  her  will  left  the  yearly 
rent  or  income  of  her  brick  dwelling  house  in  Middle  street  to  her 
niece  for  her  natural  life  and  then  to  revert  to  Peter  Thatcher 
Smith,  Margrate  Whitewell,  and  Margrate  Webb,  one-third  to 
each.  These  three  last-named  heirs  conveyed  the  estate  to  Ezra 
Welch,  described  as  miller,  for  $2,333.33,  Nov.  20,  1795.  Welch 
conveyed  the  estate  to  Thomas  Waldron,  Dec.  23,  1796,  for  the 
sum  of  $8,000.  This  was  probably  a  bogus  sale  by  Welch  in  order 
to  defraud  his  creditors,  for  William  Parker  obtained  judgment 
against  Ezra  Welch  in  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  held  in  Boston 
April  3,  1798,  to  the  amount  of  $4,922.25.  Thomas  Howe,  James 
Harrison,  and  Nathaniel  Johnson,  three  disinterested  discreet 
men,  being  freeholders,  and  chosen  by  the  debtor,  creditor,  and 
sheriff,  upon  oath  appraised  the  real  estate  in  Middle  street  belong- 
ing to  the  debtor,  and  after  deducting  the  mortgage  and  interest 
due  on  same  amounting  to  $1,667.38  declared  the  equity  in  said 
estate  to  be  worth  $3,499,  which  equity  and  seizin  was  delivered 
to  William  Parker,  the  creditor,  by  the  sheriff,  agreeable  to  the 
order  of  the  court  June  7,  1798. 

William  Parker  conveyed  the  estate  to  Asa  Payson  and  Edward 
Holbrook  for  the  sum  of  $5,100  June  17,  1799. 

Thomas  C.  Amory,  merchant,  assignee  of  the  estate  and  effects 
of  Asa  Payson,  and  Edward  Holbrook,  merchant  and  bankrupt,  con- 
vey the  estate  to  Peter  Bicknell  and  John  White  for  the  sum  of 
$5,141,  Jan.  10,  1803. 

John  White  conveyed  his  undivided  one-half  to  Henry  Hutchin- 
son for  the  sum  of  $4,000,  Jan.  22,  1807. 

Henry  Hutchinson,  sailmaker,  conveys  to  James  Percival,  mar- 
iner, his  one  undivided  half  of  said  estate  for  the  sum  of  $3,800 
Sept.  8,  1809. 

James  Percival  conveys  his  one-half  of  the  estate  to  Andrew 
Homer  for  $5,000  Feb.  17,  1816. 

Andrew  Homer  conveyed  his  one-half  interest  to  John  Howard, 
merchant,  for  $5,000  July  11,  1817. 


98  ANTIQUE   VIEWS   OF  BOSTON. 

Peter  Bicknell  to  George  Bass,  hatter,  his  one-half  interest  in 
said  estate  for  $3,050  Aug.  8,  1822. 

George  Bass  conveys  it  back  again  to  Bicknell  for  same  amount 
Aug.  15,  1822. 

Peter  Bicknell,  woodwharfinger,  for  $3,050  conveys  his  undivided 
one-half  to  John  Howard  Aug.  15,  1822. 

This  last  conveyance  gives  John  Howard  possession  of  the  whole 
estate. 

On  March  17,  1880,  Elizabeth  L.  Means  and  Ann  Maria  Conant, 
widow's  daughters  and  sole  heirs-at-law  of  John  Howard,  convey 
the  said  premises  to  John  Miller  for  the  sum  of  $26,000.  Miller 
tore  down  the  old  building  and  erected  the  present  structure. 

From  Mi's.  Means  the  writer  obtained  much  valuable  informa- 
tion. She  lived  the  greater  part  of  her  life  in  the  Cotton  Mather 
building.  She,  however,  was  not  aware  that  it  ever  belonged  to 
John  Mayo  or  Cotton  Mather.  She  stated  that  when  her  father 
bought  the  other  half  of  the  house  of  Peter  Bicknell  he  let  it  to 
Henry  Ware,  the  father  of  Rev.  John  F.  W.  Ware,  late  pastor  of 
the  Arlington-Street  church,  who  lived  there  about  three  years, 
during  which  his  mother  and  brother  died  there.  After  Mr.  Ware 
moved  out,  Captain  Atwood,  who  commanded  the  packet  that  sailed 
from  Boston  to  Albany,  moved  in,  and  afterward  the  following- 
named  persons  came  to  live  here :  Mr.  George  Thatcher,  a  merchant 
on  Long  Wharf,  Mr.  Samuel  Cutter,  Zebina  Raymond,  afterward 
Mayor  of  Cambridge.  William  Barnicoat,  chief  of  the  fire  depart- 
ment, was  the  last  occupant  before  the  lower  story  was  altered  into 
stores  in  1846  when  the  front  of  the  building  was  taken  down  and 
the  area  in  front  built  over,  thereby  making  two  stores,  one  of 
which  was  occupied  for  the  purpose  of  selling  English  dry  goods, 
and  the  other  for  a  hat  and  cap  store. 

When  the  building  was  altered  Mrs.  Means  preserved  the  fan  light 
that  was  over  the  front  door,  also  a  pilaster  that  supported  the 
porch,  and  several  blue  Dutch  tiles  from  the  front  of  the  fireplace 
representing  religious  subjects  which  were  evidently  placed  there 
by  John  Mayo  or  Cotton  Mather.  The  relics,  at  the  request  of 
Mrs.  Means,  the  writer  presented  to  the  Bostonian  Society.  The 
illustration  of  the  building  was  made  from  a  description  given  by 
Mrs.  Means.  The  sketch,  on  being  shown  to  old  residents  of  the 
North  End,  was  readily  recognized  as  the  residence  of  John 
Howard. 


King  GEORGE  the  Third, 
Crown'd  September  22d  1761. 


I     New-England 
{PRIMER! 

t  Improved.  ^ 

For  the  more  eafy  attaining  the  tme|c. 
t  Reading  of  Englifh.  # 

To  which  is  added,  |* 

$The  AflembJy  of  Divines,-! 

f       and  Mr.  Cotton's       # 
%  .  # 

§         Catechifm.         I 

#  * 

|(   U.QC OQOOQOgQOOQO   |* 

%BOSTON:  Printed  and  Sold  by  f 
S     S.Adams,  in  ghteen Jlreet.    1762.   # 


In  Adam's  Fall, 
We  finned  all. 


Heaven  to  find, 
The  Bible  mind. 


Christ  crucify'd, 
For  Sinners  dy'd. 


TheDeluge  drown'd 
The  Earth  around. 

Elijah  hid, 
By  Ravens  fed. 

Thejudgment  made 
Felix  afraid. 


MR.  John  Rocers,  Minilier  of  the 
Gofpel  in  London,  was  the  f.rft  Mar- 
tyr in  Queen  Mary's  Reign,  nnd  was  burnt 
at  Smitbf.rU.  February  14th.  1554.  His 
Wife  with  nine  fmall  Children,  ar.d  o«e 
at  her  BreaD,  following  KLm  ro  tbe.Suke; 
with  which  forrowful  infill  he  was  r.o:  in 
ihe  leall  daun;ed,  bui  with  ivoundctfv)  Pati- 
ence died  coy  rage  oufiv  for  the  Gofrc'of J«fos 
ChriS.  Sen. 


First  Four  Pages  of  the  New  England  Frimer. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  B.OSTON.  99 

THE   NEW   ENGLAND   PRIMER. 

The  New  England  Primer  is  a  very  small  subject,  only  about 
three  inches  square,  yet,  small  as  are  its  dimensions,  it  is  something 
that  for  a  century  and  a  half  at  least  exerted  no  small  influence  on 
the  creed,  the  morals,  and  the  institutions  of  New  England.  For 
five  or  six  generations  it  was  an  inmate  of  every  household ;  it 
was  studied  in  every  school,  and  its  teachings,  received  in  earliest 
childhood,  remained  as  familiar  truths  when  the  failing  memory  of 
age  had  let  so  all  else  save  the  Bible.  It  was  sometimes  called 
the  "little  Bible  of  New  England."  No  one  knows  when  the  first 
New  England  Primer  was  published,  or  by  whom  it  was  compiled, 
or  by  what  artist  it  was  first  "Adorned  with  cuts."  As  early  as 
1691,  Benjamin  Harris,  a  printer  and  bookseller  in  Boston,  adver- 
tised it  for  sale. 

A  single  copy  remains  of  an  Indian  Primer,  complied  by  John 
Eliot,  and  printed  in  Cambridge  in  1699.  This  is  sixty-eight  years 
older  than  the  first  edition  of  the  New  England  Primer  of  which 
any  complete  copy  can  be  found.  The  edition  of  1762,  printed 
and  sold  by  S.  Adams  in  Queen  st. ,  is  considered  very  rare.  It  con- 
tains for  the  frontispiece  a  wood  cut  of  "King  George  the  Third," 
also  the  rude  type-metal  cut  of  "Mr.  John  Rogers,  Minister  of 
the  Gospel  in  London,  the  first  Martyr  in  Queen  Mary's  Reign, 
about  to  be  burnt  at  Smithfield,  his  Wife  with  nine  small  children 
and  one  at  her  Breast  following  him  to  the  Stake."  These  two 
pages  we  have  reproduced,  and  also  the  title  page  and  the  first  page 
of  alphabetical  series  of  rhymes,  and  the  wood  cuts  with  which 
they  are  associated,  commencing  with 

"In  Adam's  Fall 
We  sinned  all." 

In  the  various  editions  of  the  Primer  these  rhymes  were  changed, 
but  the  first  was  suffered  to  remain  untouched.  Indeed,  if  "Adam's 
fall"  and  its  consequences  had  not  been  kept  in  the  foreground, 
the  New  England  Primer  would  have  well-nigh  lost  its  identity. 


100  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

FANEUIL    HALL. 

Our  first  engraving  shown  here  of  Faneuil  Hall  was  reproduced 
from  the  Mass.  Magazine  for  1789.  The  second  one  is  reproduced 
from  Snow's  History  of  Boston,  1824 ;  on  this  view  a  white  line 
exhibits  the  line  of  demarcation  between  the  original  building  and 
the  addition  of  1806.  Sacredly  is  the  Old  Market  House,  which 
Lovell  dedicated  to  liberty  and  loyalty  in  1743,  preserved  and 
treasured.  Although  much  too  small  for  popular  gatherings  at 
the  present  day,  its  long  use  for  that  purpose,  and  the  hallowed 
associations  connected  with  it,  still  mark  it  as  the  center  from 
which  the  people  of  Boston  send  forth  their  will. 

' '  The  Cradle  of  Liberty"  has  been  the  scene  of  many  and  stir- 
ring events.  Its  sacred  walls  though  silent,  echo  in  language  im- 
perishable, the  sentiments  of  the  voiceless  departed.  There  is  not 
an  atom  of  the  plain  old  structure  but  what  is  dear  to  the  hearts 
of  the  American  people.  In  every  moment  of  public  exigency, 
it  has  held  within  its  walls  hearts  that  were  true  to  the  grand  old 
principles  which  have   made  its  name   a  houshold  word. 

In  1740,  the  people  again  took  up  the  Market-house  question. 
Peter  Faneuil  then  proposed  to  build  at  his  own  expense,  on  the 
public  ground  in  Dock  Square,  a  market,  and  present  it  to  the 
town,  on  condition  that  the  town  should  legally  authorize,  regulate 
and  maintain  it.  His  munificent  proposition  was  endorsed  by  a 
bare  majority  of  seven  out  of  seven  hundred  and  twenty-seven 
votes  cast.  The  building  was  completed  in  September,  1742,  and 
three  days  afterward  was  formerly  accepted  by  the  citizens  with  a 
vote  of  thanks  to  the  donor.  Hon.  Thomas  Cushing,  moderator 
of  the  meeting  was  appointed  to  "wait  upon  Peter  Faneuil,  Esq., 
and  in  the  name  of  the  town  to  render  him  their  most  hearty 
thanks  for  so  bountiful  a  gift."  The  town  voted  to  call  the  hall 
Faneuil  Hall  forever.  John  Lambert,  the  painter,  was  the  first 
architect  of  Faneuil  Hall ;  Samuel  Ruggles  was  the  builder. 
Originally  the  building  was  only  intended  to  be  one  story,  but 
with  characteristic  generosity,  Mr.  Faneuil  added  another  story 
for  a  Town  Hall.  It  was  forty  by  one  hundred  feet  in  size,  just 
half  its  present  dimensions,  and  would  accommodate  one  thousand 
persons.  The  whole  interior  was  destroyed  by  fire,  January,  13, 
1763.  The  town  was  aided  in  re-building  by  the  State,  which 
authorized  a  lottery  with  that  object.     The  first  meeting  after  its 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  105 

rebuilding  was  held  March  14,  1763,  James  Otis  delivering  the 
dedicatory  address.  In  1806  it  was  enlarged  to  its  present  size,  a 
third  story  being  added.  The  first  public  oration  in  the  hall  was 
a  funeral  eulogy  delivered  in  honor  of  its  donor,  Peter  Faneuil, 
March  14,  1743,  by  Master  Lovell  of  the  Latin  School,  and  was 
"  Recorded  by  Order  of  Town."  The  Hall  was  dedicated  to  Liberty 
and  Loyalty  in  the  following  words  :  "  That  this  Hall  may  ever  be 
Sacred  to  the  Interests  of  Truth,  of  Justice,  of  Loyalty,  of  Honor, 
of  Liberty.  May  Liberty  always  spread  its  Joyful  Wings  over  this 
Place.  And  may  Loyalty  to  a  King  under  whom  we  enjoy  this 
Liberty  ever  remain  our  Character." 

On  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act,  Faneuil  Hall  was  illuminated,  by 
a  vote  of  the  town.  In  the  winter  of  1775-6.  the  British  officers, 
under  General  Howe,  gave  theatrical  entertainments  there,  princi- 
pally in  ridicule  of  the  patriots.  The  Sunday  following  the  bat- 
tle of  Lexins^on,  there  was  a  meeting  of  citizens  held  in  the  hall 
to  arrange  terms  with  General  Gage,  on  which  they  might  leave 
the  town.  The  oldest  military  organization  in  the  United  States 
have  their  armory  in  Faneuil  Hall.  They  were  formed  in  1637, 
and  are  now  known  as  the  ' '  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery 
Company." 

Faneuil  Hall  has  been  the  scene  of  many  brilliant  social  as  well  as 
other  events.  In  1778,  Count  D'Estaing  was  given  there  a  mag- 
nificent entertainment,  at  which  five  hundred  guests  were  present. 
When  Lafayette  was  in  Boston,  in  1784,  the  merchants  gave  him 
a  dinner  at  Faneuil  Hall.  At  every  toast  thirteen  cannon,  typical 
of  the  thirteen  States  probably,  were  fired  in  an  adjoining  square. 
In  the  course  of  the  evening  a  picture  of  Washington  was  un- 
veiled, affecting  all  present  most  visably.  President  Jackson,  on 
the  occasion  of  the  opening  of  a  new  dry  dock  at  Charlestown, 
in  1833,  held  a  public  reception  at  Faneuil  Hall.  A  grand  ball 
was  there  givren  to  the  Prince  de  Joinville,  in  November,  1841. 
Lord  Ashburton,  negotiator  with  Mr.  Webster,  of  the  treaty  which 
bears  his  name,  was  welcomed  to  Boston  in  Faneuil  Hall,  August 
27,  1842,  by  Mayor  Chapman.  Upon  the  opening  of  the  Grand 
Trunk  Railway,  the  Earl  of  Elgin,  while  Governor  general  of 
Canada,  visited  Boston  with  his  staff  and  received  the  honor  of  a 
grand  ball  at  Faneuil  Hall. 


106  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

THE  GREEN  DRAGON  TAVERN. 

But  a  few  steps  from  Hanover  street,  in  that  portion  of  Union 
street  which  leads  towards  the  site  of  the  old  mill-pond,  formerly 
stood  an  ancient  building  of  considerable  notoriety,  known  in  the 
olden  time  as  the  Green  Dragon  Tavern,  and  even  until  quite 
recently  retaining  this  distinctive  name.  It  was  early  a  noted 
landmark,  even  in  the  first  century  of  Boston's  history ;  and,  as 
time  wore  on,  it  became  as  famous  as  any  private  edifice — if  such 
it  could  be  called,  considering  the  public  uses  to  which  it  was  fre- 
quently put — that  could  be  fouud  upon  the  peninsula. 

If  its  early  occupancy  and  use  brought  it  into  notice,  so  also  was 
new  fame  added  to  that  which  it  had  acquired  by  the  gatherings 
of  the  Revolutionists  within  its  sombre  walls  during  the  early  days 
of  the  American  Revolution,  when  Samuel  Adams,  James  Otis, 
Joseph  Warren,  Pairl  Revere,  and  other  "  Sons  of  Liberty  "  in  then- 
secret  councils  planned  the  separation  of  the  colonies  from  the 
mother  country. 

In  this  noted  house  Dr.  Douglas  wrote  his  famous  books,  and  in 
it  he  died.  By  an  agreement  of  his  heirs,  made  September  27, 
1754,  and  recorded  with  the  Suffolk  Records,  the  old  mansion- 
house  fell  to  Catherine  Kerr,  and  she,  a  widow,  by  deed  dated 
March  31,  1764,  conveyed  it,  for  the  consideration  of  £466  13s. 
4kd.,  to  Moses  Deshon  and  others,  members  of  St.  Andrew's  Lodge 
of  Freemasons.  Since  this  date  the  estate  has  been  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Lodge,  from  whom  was  obtained  this  engraving  of  the 
old  building. 

The  old  tavern  stood  on  the  left  side  of  the  street,  formerly 
called  Green  Dragon  Lane,  now  the  northerly  portion  of  Union 
street,  leading  from  Hanover  street  to  the  old  mill-pond,  now  filled 
up  and  built  upon.  It  was  built  of  brick,  and  in  its  latter  days 
was  painted  of  a  dingy  color.  In  front  it  showed  only  two  stories 
and  an  attic  ;  but  in  the  rear,  from  the  slope  of  the  land  and  the 
peculiar  shape  of  the  roof,  three  stories,  with  a  basement,  were 
perceptible.  It  covered  a  piece  of  land  fifty  feet  in  front  and 
thirty-four  in  depth,  and  had  connected  with  it  a  large  stable  and 
other  outbuildings. 

In  recent  times  the  lower  story  was  used  as  the  common  rooms 
of  a  tavern,  while  in  the  second,  on  the  street  front,  was  a  large 
hall  used  for  public  as  well  as  for  Masonic  purposes. 


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ANTIQUE   VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  109 

The  attic  story  afforded  ample  accommodations  for  sleeping 
apartments.  The  chimneys  were  substantially  built  in  the  side 
walls,  and  were  of  the  usual  style  found  in  houses  built  at  the  close 
of  the  seventeenth  century. 

The  attic  windows  on  the  front  part  of  the  roof,  and  the  walk 
railed  in  on  the  upper  part,  added  much  to  the  appearance  and 
comfort  of  the  building,  which,  in  its  best  days,  must  have  been 
commodious,  and  comfortably  arranged. 

In  front  of  the  building  there  projected  from  the  wall  an  iron 
crane,  upon  which  was  couched  a  Green  Dragon.  This  peculiar 
mark  of  designation  was  very  ancient,  perhaps  as  old  as  the  build- 
ing itself.  It  was  formed  of  thick  sheet  copper,  and  had  a  curled 
tail ;  and  from  its  mouth  projected  a  fearful  looking  tongue,  the 
wonder  of  all  the  boys  who  dwelt  in  the  neighborhood.  When 
the  building  was  taken  down,  this  curious  relic  of  the  handiwork 
of  the  ancient  mechanics  of  the  town  disappeared,  and  has  never 
since  been  found,  although  most  searching  inquiries  and  diligent 
examinations  for  it  have  been  made  among  workmen  and  in  the 
collections  of  dealers  in  old  material. 

Undoubtedly  the  famous  "Tea Party"  of  1773  had  its  origin 
within  the  walls  of  this  old  mansion  ;  for  it  is  known  that  severel 
of  the  most  active  spirits  engaged  in  it  were  members  of  the  Ma- 
sonic Lodge  that  held  its  meetings  there  monthly.  A  Lodge 
meeting  called  for  November  30,  1773,  being  St.  Andrew's  Day, 
was  closed  without  the  transaction  of  business  in  consequence  of 
the  fewness  of  the  brethren  present,  and  the  following  words  in  a 
distinct  hand  were  entered  on  the  page  with  the  record,  "  (N.  B. 
Consignees  of  Tea  took  up  the  Brethren's  time.)" 

The  meeting  which  was  to  have  been  held  on  December  16,  the  day 
of  the  destruction  of  the  tea,  was  also  given  up  for  the  same  reason. 

In  October,  1828,  as  the  travel  from  Charlestown  had  much 
increased,  and  as  the  filling  up  of  the  mill-pond  had  given  room 
for  many  buildings,  and  therefore  required  the  widening  of  Green 
Dragon  Lane,  the  old  building  was  taken  down  by  order  of  the 
city  authorities,  and  a  considerable  part  of  its  site  taken  for  the 
proposed  widening ;  and  then  passed  almost  from  remembrance 
the  appearance  of  one  of  the  most  noted  and  interesting  land 
marks  of  the  early  days  of  the  town.  On  its  site,  and  covering 
the  whole  estate,  a  large  warehouse  has  been  erected  by  the 
Lodge,  which  is  now,  in  1882,  occupied  as  a  trunk  manufactory. 


110  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

THE   HANCOCK   MANSION. 

There  was  no  nobler  private  mansion  of  the  Colonial  period  in 
Boston  than  the  Hancock  house.  The  front  of  the  estate  em- 
braced from  Mt.  Vernon  street,  given  to  the  town  by  Governor 
Hancock,  to  Joy  street,  formerly  Clapboard,  and  since  Belknap 
street.  All  of  the  State  House  and  part  of  the  Reservoir  ground, 
including  Hancock  avenue,  Mt.  Vernon  Place,  and  a  part  of  Han- 
cock street,  in  which  was  situated  his  nursery,  belonged  to  the 
Hancocks.   The  site  of  the  New  State  House  was  Hancock's  pasture. 

The  main  building  was  of  hewn  stone,  stood  about  twelve  feet 
above  the  street  and  fronted  the  south,  commanding  a  fine  view  of 
the  Common  and  surrounding  country.  A  low  stone  wall  protected 
the  ground  from  the  street,  on  which  was  placed  a  wooden  fence. 
A  wooden  hall,  designed  for  festive  occasions,  sixty  feet  in  length, 
was  joined  to  the  northern  wing ;  it  was  afterward  removed  to  Allen 
street.  On  the  west  was  the  coach  house,  and  adjoining  were  the 
stables.  On  the  elevated  ground  in  the  rear  was  a  summer  house 
from  which  opened  a  capital  prospect,  West  Boston,  and  the  north 
part  of  the  town,  Charlestown,  Cambridge,  the  colleges,  the  bridges 
over  Charles  and  Mystic  rivers.  To  the  south  and  west  the  views 
were  not  less  enchanting,  as  they  embraced  Roxbury,  the  heights 
of  Dorchester,  Brookline,  and  the  rugged  Blue  Hills  of  Milton  and 
Braintree.  Upon  the  east,  the  numerous  islands  in  the  harbor, 
from  Castle  William  to  the  light  house,  engaged  the  eye. 

Here  in  this  old  mansion  Hancock  entertained  the  distinguished 
men  who  visited  Boston  in  princely  style.  Washington,  Lafay- 
ette, D'Estaing,  Brissot,  and  others,  not  less  noted,  have  enjoyed 
the  hospitality  of  this  house.  At  his  death  Hancock  lay  in  state, 
in  the  entrance  hall,  for  eight  days.  In  1863  this  historic  land- 
mark gave  way  to  the  demands  of  mammon,  but  not  until  a  stren- 
uous but  fruitless  effort  had  been  made  to  save  it.     What  a  pity  ! 

The  building  was  erected  by  Thomas  Hancock  in  1737,  and 
given  to  his  nephew  the  Governor,  by  his  aunt,  Lydia  Hancock. 

The  British  soldiers  pillaged  the  house  about  the  time  of  the 
battle  of  Lexington  and  it  would  probably  have  been  destroyed  had 
not  General  Gage  sent  Percy  to  occupy  it.  While  Clinton  re- 
mained in  Boston  he  occupied  it  as  his  head-quarters.  Be  it  said 
to  Clinton's  credit  that  the  pictures,  furniture  and  building  showed 
scarcely  any  signs  of  ill-usage  during  his  possession. 

This  engraving  was  reproduced  from  the  Mass.  Mag.  for  1789. 


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BEACON    HILL   FROM    DERNE   STREET. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  115 

BEACON    HILL. 

On  the  sunny  south-west  slope  of  Beacon  Hill  the  first  settler 
in  Boston,  "William  Blackstone,  located  his  home.  Beacon  Hill  at 
that  time  had  three  spurs  :  Centry  Hill  in  the  center,  Pemberton, 
also  known  as  Cotton,  on  the  east,  and  West  Hill,  or  Mt.  Vernon, 
on  the  west,  and  was  considered  quite  a  high  mountain. 

The  summit  of  Beacon  Hill  on  which  stood  the  ancient  Pharos 
of  Boston,  is  intersected  by  Temple  street,  named  for  Sir  John 
Temple,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Governor  Bowdoin.  The  tract 
owned  by  the  town  was  only  six  rods  square,  with  a  roadway  of 
thirty  feet  leading  to  it.  This  was  sold  to  John  Hancock  and 
Samuel  Spear  in  1811,  when  the  action  of  the  abutters  in  digging 
down  the  hill  made  it  untenable.  On  the  top  of  this  grassy  mound 
was  erected  the  beacon,  used  to  alarm  the  country  in  case  of  in- 
vasion. It  was  erected  about  1634-35,  the  town  having  ordered  it 
set  on  Centry  Hill,  as  it  was  then  known,  with  a  watch  of  one  per- 
son to  give  the  signal  on  the  approach  of  danger.  The  beacon 
was  a  tall  mast,  standing  on  cross  timbers  placed  upon  a  stone 
foundation  and  supported  by  braces.  Treenails  were  driven 
through  the  mast  by  which  it  was  ascended,  and  near  the  top  pro- 
jected a  crane  of  iron,  sixty-five  feet  from  the  base,  upon  which 
was  suspended  an  iron  skeleton  frame,  designed  to  receive  a  barrel 
of  tar,  or  other  combustible  matter. 

In  1790  a  monument  of  brick  sixty  feet  in  height  and  four  in 
diameter  marked  the  spot.  It  was  erected  to  the  memory  of  those 
who  fell  at  Bunker  Hill,  and  was  designed  by  Charles  Bulfinch. 
It  was  a  plain  Doric  shaft,  raised  on  a  pedestal  of  stone  and  brick 
eight  feet  high.  The  outside  was  encrusted  with  cement ;  and  on 
top  was  a  large  gilded  wooden  eagle,  supporting  the  American 
arms.  The  monument  was  taken  down  and  the  hill  levelled  in 
1811.  ,  The  earth  which  formed  the  cone  was  used  to  fill  in  the 
Mill-pond,  making  a  foundation  for  the  Lowell  and  Eastern  railroad 
depots.  A  new  monument  of  granite,  a  reproduction  of  the  former 
one,  was  erected  in  1898  on  the  grounds  in  front  cf  the  easterly  side 
of  the  new  addition  to  the  State  House.  The  four  sides  of  the 
base  contain  the  original  tablets  that  were  on  the  former  monu- 
ment. The  five  engravings  of  Beacon  Hill  are  reproduced  from 
colored  lithographs  made  by  J.  H.  Bufford  in  1857  from  drawings 
made  on  the  spot  in  1811  by  J.  R.  Smith. 


116  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

JOY  BUILDING. 

The  old  print  from  which  this  engraving  was  reproduced  is  very 
rare.  It  was  obtained  from  the  New  England  Historic  Genaloarical 
Society,  and  was  printed  on  a  hand  bill.  As  it  does  not  appear  in 
any  of  the  magazines  of  the  period  that  the  cut  was  made  in,  it 
was  probably  used  only  for  that  purpose.  Joy's  building  was 
erected  in  1808,  on  the  second  site  of  the  First  Church,  a  full 
description  of  which  we  have  previously  given  in  connection  with 
the  engraving  of  the  church.  The  church  society  sold  the  site  to 
Benjamin  Joy,  a  wealthy  citizen,  on  which  he  erected  this  building, 
The  stores  and  dwelling  houses  on  Cornhill,  the  former  name  of 
this  portion  of  Washington  street,  were  so  insignificant  that  when 
Joy's  building  was  erected  out-of-town  people  for  miles  around 
came  in  to  view  the  stately  edifice,  and  were  greatly  astonished  at 
its  magnificence.  It  was  indeed  the  "  Elephant"  of  Boston  We 
have  no  direct  record  of  its  first  tenants,  but  in  1830,  when  the 
picture  we  present  was  made,  many  old  citizens  recollect  its  oc- 
cupants. The  book-selling  firm  of  R.  P.  &  C.  Williams,  was  one 
of  the  leading  firms  in  that  trade.  Our  well  known  and  respected 
fellow  citizen,  Alexander  Williams,  of  the  old  corner  book  store, 
was  a  son  of  the  senior  partner.  The  dry  goods  firm  of  Lane, 
Lamson  &  Co.,  which  occupied  the  store  in  the  southerly  corner, 
recently  occupied  by  Percival,  apothecary,  was  in  subsequent  years 
one  of  the  leading  silk  importing  houses  of  Boston,  and  is,  we 
believe,  still  doing  business  in  New  York.  The  school  kept  by 
John  Ware  in  the  second  story  was  quite  popular  in  its  day.  Our 
respected  fellow  citizen,  Mr.  Rowland  Ellis,  was  one  of  its 
scholars.  Peeping  around  the  rear  corner  of  Joy's  building  is  seen 
the  sign  of  W.  Fenno,  of  beefsteak  memory.  "  Uncle  "  Fenno 
and  his  thrifty  wife  for  many  years  managed  the  old  Cornhill  coffee- 
house in  such  excellent  style  that  it  became  a  popular  resort  as  a 
lunch  house.  There  are  some  old  citizens  yet  alive  who  retain  ap- 
petizing recollections  of  the  establishment.  The  building  has  no 
remarkable  history,  nor  has  anything  noteworthy  occurred  within 
its  walls  ;  yet  it  is  one  of  those  landmarks  of  Boston  which  are  so 
rapidly  disappearing  that  in  a  few  years  nothing  will  remain  to  re- 
mind us  of  these  old  time  architectural  monuments.  The  general 
appearance  of  the  building  was  not  much  changed  during  its  exist- 
ence and  its  walls,  built  by  honest  workmen,  were  so  thick  and 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  119 

firm  that  they  were  able  to  withstand  the  pressure  of  a  much  higher 
structure.  The  tenants  of  Joy's  building  seem  to  have  been  well 
treated  and  well  satisfied  with  their  quarters,  judging  from  the 
tenacity  with  which  they  have  clung  to  it.  The  late  Josiah  Good- 
ing commenced  in  the  room  now  occupied  by  his  son,  in  1836. 
The  late  Uriah  H.  Boyden  had  a  suit  of  rooms  for  forty  years,  and 
Mr.  Briggs,  the  architect,  occupied  his  room  for  thirty-six  years. 
Shortly  before  the  death  of  the  late  Charles  O.  Kogers,  he  pur- 
chased this  estate  with  the  intention  of  building  the  most  complete 
newspaper  establishment  in  Boston.  Had  he  lived  his  ideas  would 
probably  have  been  fully  realized,  for  he  was  a  man  of  rare  fore- 
sight and  executive  ability.  The  Rogers  building  now  occupying 
its  site  was  built  in  1882. 

.       EXCHANGE  COFFEE-HOUSE. 

This  engraving  was  reproduced  from  Snow's  History  of  Boston, 
published  in  1825,  and  the  description  from  Shaw's  History  of 
Boston,  published  in  1817. 

It  was  the  most  capacious  building  and  most  extensive  establish- 
ment of  its  kind  in  the  United  States,  at  that  period.  It  was  sit- 
uated in  Congress  Square,  once  known  by  the  singular  title  of 
Half-Square  Court,  and  fronted  on  Congress  street.  The  early 
history  of  this  structure  is  that  of  an  unsuccessful  speculation, 
which  involved  individuals  in  ruin,  and  seriously  injured  a  large 
class  of  the  community.  It  was  a  mammoth  affair  of  seven  stories, 
far  in  advance  of  the  wants  of  its  day,  and  was  completed  in  1808, 
having  occupied  two  years  and  a  half  in  building.  It  cost  half  a 
million  dollars.  Destroyed  by  fire  Nov.  3,  1818.  It  was  rebuilt 
in  a  less  expensive  manner,  and  occupied  as  a  tavern  until  1853, 
when  it  was  demolished,  giving  place  to  the  brown  freestone  build- 
ing known  as  "  City  Exchange,"  now  occupying  the  site  of  the  old 
building.  The  front  of  the  Coffee-House,  on  Congress  street,  was 
ornamented  with  six  marble  Ionic  pilasters,  and  crowned  with  a 
Corinthian  pediment.  It  had  entrances  on  the  State  street  side  and 
from  Devonshire  street. 

The  building  was  of  an  irregular  shape,  rather  like  a  triangle 
with  the  apex  cut  off,  and  contained  about  two  hundred  and  ten 
apartments.  It  was  in  the  veiy  centre  of  business  and  was  a  stop- 
ping place  for  stages  going  or  returning  from  town.     A  number  of 


120  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

Masonic  lodges  occupied  the  upper  stories.  In  its  day  it  was  the 
leading  hotel  of  the  city,  and  many  distinguished  men  have  been 
entertained  there. 

The  fire  which  destroyed  the  Coffee-House  was  very  destructive. 
The  keeper,  Mr.  Barnum,  lost  $25,000.  Eleven  printing  offices, 
the  Grand  Masonic  Lodge  of  the  State,  and  several  other  Masonic 
Lodges  wex-e  burned  out.  The  principal  floor  of  the  Coffee-House 
was  originally  intended  for  a  public  exchange,  which  design  was 
never  executed,  as  the  merchants,  from  long  habit,  prefered  to 
stand  in  the  street,  even  during  the  inclement  winter  months. 
There  was  also  a  convenient  coffee  room,  reading  room,  a  bar  and 
drawing  room,  besides  various  apartments  occupied  by  public  cor- 
porations and  private  individuals  on  this  floor.  The  dining  room 
on  the  second  floor  would  seat  three  hundred  persons.  The  re- 
maining floors  were  occupied  as  lodging  rooms,  with  a  ball  room 
and  several  society  rooms. 

Captain  Hull,  and  other  Naval  and  military  officers,  made  the 
Exchange  their  quarters  during  the  war  of  1812.  The  British 
Captain,  Dacres,  who  became  Hull's  prisoner  after  the  engagement 
with  the  Guerriere,  lodged  here ;  the  twain  afterwards  became  fast 
friends.  It  is  related  that  the  day  on  which  the  Chesapeake  left 
Boston  to  engage  the  Shannon,  then  lying  outside  of  the  harbor, 
the  people  of  Boston  expected  an  easy  and  speedy  victory  under 
so  able  a  commander  as  Lawrence,  and  prepared  a  banquet,  at  the 
Exchange,  for  the  captors  on  their  return  from  the  conflict,  to  which 
Captain  Broke  and  his  officers  were  to  be  invited.  The  result  of 
the  engagement,  however,  was  far  different  from  what  was  ex- 
pected. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  123 

MONUMENT  TO  REV.  JOHN  HARVARD  AT  CHARLESTOWN. 

Rev.  John  Harvard,  to  whose  memory  the  monument  here  pre- 
sented was  erected  in  1828,  was  the  principal  donor  to  the  literary 
seminary  at  Cambridge,  in  its  infancy,  and  has  generally  been  con- 
sidered its  founder.  So  important  and  so  large  was  his  donation 
that  the  civil  rulers  of  Massachusetts,  who  encouraged  and  patron- 
ized it  from  the  first,  gave  it  the  name  of  Harvard  College,  soon 
after  the  bequest.  This  was  in  the  year  1638,  and  the  amount 
given  by  Mr.  Harvard  was  780  pounds.  The  magistrates  of  the 
colony,  though  comparatively  few  in  number  (probably  not  ex- 
ceeding 5,000)  and  subject  to  great  charges  and  costs  in  removing 
to  this  country  and  preparing  for  the  comfort  of  their  families,  in 
1636,  agreed  to  appropriate  400  pounds  towards  the  support  of  a 
college  or  school  in  that  place.  A  large  tract  of  land  was  soon 
granted  to  it,  and  several  individuals  early  made  donations  of  va- 
rious sums.  Mr.  Harvard's  gift  was  exceedingly  opportune,  and 
was  perhaps  almost  essential  to  its  continuance,  certainly  to  its 
growth  and  usefulness. 

Mr.  Harvard  came  to  this  country  in  1637,  and  resided  at 
Charlestown,  where  he  preached  for  a  short  time.  It  is  believed 
he  was  an  invalid  when  he  arrived,  and  he  died  in  September,  1638. 
He  was  educated  at  Emanuel  college  in  the  university  of  Cam- 
bridge, England,  and  had  the  reputation  of  a  good  scholar.  He 
was  sometime  a  settled  minister  in  that  country,  but  was,  no  doubt, 
of  the  class  of  the  puritan  clergy,  or  he  would  not  have  emigrated 
from  his  native  land.  Very  little  of  the  history  of  this  worthy 
man  has  been  preserved.  It  is  evident  his  estate  was  considerable, 
compared  to  most  of  the  clergy  of  his  time.  For,  though  several 
of  them  were  far  from  being  poor,  few  only  had  large  estates  ;  and 
those  who  had  a  goodly  portion  of  worldly  things  sacrificed  much 
by  their  removal.  It  is  not  known  whether  he  had  a  family,  but 
it  is  believed  he  left  a  widow.  There  is  no  record  of  any  will 
made  by  him  in  writing,  but  his  bequest  to  the  seminary  in  Cam- 
bridge was  sufficiently  legal  to  take  effect.  Nuncupative  wills  have 
always  been  considered  as  valid,  with  proper  witnesses  whose  tes- 
timony is  soon  afterwards  given.  The  sum  Mr.  Harvard  gave  was 
a  full  moiety  of  his  whole  property.  He  also  ordered  that  his 
library,  which  consisted  of  more  than  three  hundred  volumes, 
should  be  given  to  that  infant  seminary. 


124  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

The  monument  was  erected  by  subscriptions  of  the  graduates  of 
Harvard  College,  in  small  sums.  The  amount  collected  and  ex- 
pended is  not  now  recollected.  The  monument  is  constructed  of 
native  granite,  in  a  solid  shaft  of  fifteen  feet  elevation,  and  in  the 
simplest  style  of  ancient  art.  On  the  eastern  face  of  the  shaft, 
the  name  of  John  Harvard  is  inscribed,  with  these  lines  :  "On  the 
26th  of  September,  A.  D.  1828,  this  stone  was  erected  by  the 
graduates  of  the  University  at  Cambridge,  in  honor  of  its  founder, 
who  died  in  Charlestown  on  the  26th  of  September,  1638."  On 
the  western  side  of  the  shaft  is  an  inscription  in  Latin,  of  the  fol- 
lowing purport  :  ' '  One  who  merits  so  much  from  our  literary  men 
should  no  longer  be  without  a  monument,  however  humble.  The 
graduates  of  the  University  of  Cambridge,  New  England,  have 
erected  this  stone,  nearly  two  hundred  years  after  his  death,  in 
pious  and  perpetual  remembrance  of  John  Harvard."  The  erec- 
tion of  the  monument  was  sanctioned  by  a  large  meeting  of  the 
graduates  of  the  University,  who  were  present  on  the  occasion ; 
when  Edward  Everett,  at  that  time  chief  magistrate  of  Massachu- 
setts, and  one  of  the  best  scholars  educated  at  Harvard  college, 
delivered  an  appropriate  and  eloquent  address.  The  object  was 
not  to  have  a  costly  and  splendid  monument,  like  those  erected  in 
the  old  countries  of  Europe  or  Asia,  but  a  durable  stone  to  desig- 
nate the  grave  of  a  scholar  and  a  christian,  and  as  a  token  of  re- 
spect due  to  such  a  man  from  the  friends  of  learning  and  religion 
of  the  present  age.     It  is  situated  in  Charlestown. 

This  engraving  was  reproduced  from  the  American  Magazine. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  127 

HARVARD   UNIVERSITY. 

1726—1823 

Harvard  University  was  founded  in  1638,  and  is  still  adminstered 
under  the  charter  granted  in  1650.  The  principle  seat  of  the 
University  is  at  Cambridge,  but  several  of  the  departments  are  in 
Boston.  For  two  generations  after  the  settlement  of  the  country, 
Harvard  was  the  only  college  in  New  England.  While  cherished 
and  honored  by  the  State,  Harvard  University  has  been,  from  the 
first  a  private  incorporated  institution,  supported  in  the  main,  first 
by  the  fees  of  students  and  secondly  by  the  income  from  perma- 
nent funds  given  by  benevolent  individuals.  The  value  of  its 
lands,  buildiDgs,  collections,  and  invested  fund  is  roughly  esti- 
mated at  $6,000,000. 

The  first  engraving  entitled  "A  Prospect  of  the  Colledges  in 
Cambridge  in  New  England,"  is  reproduced  from  an  engraving 
upon  a  panel  belonging  to  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society, 
and  has  a  special  interest  and  value,  as  being  the  only  known  copy 
of  one  of  the  earliest  impressions  of  the  plate  first  published  in 
1726,  preserving  to  us  the  form  and  lineaments  of  the  three  vener- 
able halls  then  standing,  which  were  Harvard,  Stoughton  and 
Massachusetts.  The  latter  is  the  only  one  now  remaining.  Harvard 
was  burned  in  1764.  Stousrhton  was  taken  down  in  1780.  The 
engraving  is  dedicated  to  Lieutenant  Governor  Dummer,  and, 
accord  ing  to  the  following  advertisement  in  the  Boston  News  Letter 
of  July  14,  1726,  was  first  published  on  that  day.  "This  day 
published.  A  Prospect  of  the  Colledges  in  Cambridge  in  New 
England,  curiously  engraved  on  copper ;  and  are  to  be  sold  at  Mr. 
Prince's,  print-seller,  over  against  the  Town  House,  Mr.  Randall, 
Jappaner  in  Ann  Street,  by  Mr.  Steadman  in  Cambridge,  and  the 
Booksellers  of  Boston."  This  view  was  discovered  only  recently, 
mounted  on  a  panel,  over  which  was  pasted  another  view  printed 
from  this  same  plate  with  some  changes,  and  published  probably 
as  late  as  1739  or  1740  and  dedicated  to  Lieutenant  Governor 
Phipps.  These  views  were  presented  to  the  Society  by  William 
Scollay  in  1795,  and  measure  24x18  inches  in  size.  In  the 
foreground  is  the  chariot  of  the  governor  with  two  officers  on 
horseback  in  the  act  of  saluting  him  as  they  pass.  The  students 
are  represented  as  wearing  the  academic  gown. 


128  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

The  second  view,  entitled  "View  of  the  Colleges  at  Cam- 
bridge, Massachusetts,"  and  also  the  description  of  same,  is  re- 
produced from  the  Massachusetts  Magazine  for  1790,  and  is  as 
follows  :  Holden  Chapel  at  the  left,  erected  in  1745  at  the  expense 
of  the  widow  and  daughters  of  Samuel  Holden,  one  of  the  direc- 
tors of  the  Bank  of  England,  who  was  a  generous  benefactor  to 
the  religious  interests  of  this  country,  It  was  used  for  the  daily 
devotions  of  the  college,  and  the  delivery  of  lectures  by  the  pro- 
fessors, till  the  rebuilding  of  Harvard  Hall.  "While  the  American 
Arnry  was  stationed  at  Cambridge  it  became  a  seat  for  their  Courts 
martial. 

The  second  building  to  the  left  is  Hollis  Hall,  so  named  in  mem- 
ory of  Thomas  Hollis,  of  London,  a  great  and  liberal  benefactor, 
and  his  nephew  Thomas  Hollis,  the  heir  of  his  fortune  and  liber- 
ality. It  is  a  large,  convenient  and  well  built  edifice.  It  was 
begun  in  1762  and  the  keys  were  delivered  with  much  ceremony, 
January  13,  1763,  in  the  name  of  the  Province,  at  whose  expense 
it  was  built. 

The  third  to  the  left  is  Harvard  Hall,  rebuilt  after  the  fire 
which,  in  January,  1764,  destroyed  the  old  college.  It  contains 
no  private  chambers,  but  is  devoted  wholly  to  college  purposes. 
The  building  on  the  risht  is  Massachusetts  Hall.  This  is  the 
oldest  of  the  present  number,  having  been  erected  in  1720.  It 
contains  thirty-two  chambers  for  students,  and  is  a  strong  and 
durable  as  well  as  convenient  house.  At  the  west  end  is  a  very 
good  clock.  In  the  space  between  this  and  Harvard  Hall  stood 
Stoughton  Hall.  The  buildings  which  have  been  described  are  so 
situated  as  to  form  three  sides  of  one  quadrangle  and  two  of  another. 
The  number  of  students  at  present  (1790)  belongingto  the  University 
is  about  one  hundred  and  forty."  The  "  Souih  View  of  the  several 
Halls  of  Harvard  College,"  was  reproduced  from  Snow's  Boston, 
and  was  taken  from  the  balcony  of  the  residence  of  the  president 
of  the  college  in  1823,  and  shows  the  following  named  buildings, 
commencing  at  the  left :  Massachusetts,  Harvard,  Hollis,  Stough- 
ton, Holworthy  and  University  Halls. 

CAMBRIDGE    COiEHOX    Df    1784. 

This  plan  is  reproduced  from  a  drawing  made  by  Joshua  Green, 
who  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  that  year.  The  names  of  the 
buildings  and  streets  have  been  added.  The  original  is  in  the  pos- 
session of  his  grandson,  Dr.  Samuel  A.  Green,  Mayor  of  Boston. 


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CAMBRIDGE    COMMON    IN    1784. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  137 

FIRST  PAPER  MONET  OF  AMERICA. 

In  1690,  the  first  bills  of  credit  were  issued  that  were  known 
in  the  American  Colonies ;  and  then  began  the  reign  of  paper 
money  in  this  country.  These  bills  were  issued  just  after  the  re- 
turn of  the  troops  from  the  disastrous  expedition  to  Canada. 
Hutchinson  says :  ' '  The  government  was  utterly  unprepared  for 
the  return  of  the  forces.  They  seem  to  have  presumed  not  only 
on  success,  but  upon  the  enemy's  treasure  to  bear  the  charge  of 
the  expedition."  The  soldiers  became  clamorous  for  their  pay, 
and  were  nearly  at  the  point  of  mutiny ;  some  means  must  be 
adopted  for  paying  them,  and  the  government  decided  to  issue 
paper  money.  A  committee  was  empowered  to  make  an  immedi- 
ate issue  of  seven  thousand  pounds,  in  bills  from  five  shillings  to 
five  pounds.  Bills  of  this  issue  are  extremely  rare ;  we  know  of 
but  one  specimen  now  in  existence  which  seems  to  be  genuine. 
It  is  in  the  possossion  of  Hon.  Robert  C.  Winthrop,  a  descendant 
of  Adam  Winthrop,  one  of  the  committee  who  signed  the  bills. 
We  here  give  an  exact  reproduction  of  it  by  the  Photo-Electrotype 
process.  In  alluding  to  its  rarity,  Mr.  Winthrop  says:  "It  is 
written  with  a  pen,  not  engraved ;  and  the  seal  of  the  Province  is 
very  inartistically  drawn.  One  might  almost  suppose  it  to  have 
been  a  mere  draught  of  the  design  for  the  notes,  rather  than  one 
of  the  notes  themselves.  But  it  is  indented  and  signed  and 
countersigned.  The  signatures  are  evidently  original,  and  the 
bill  is  numbered  4980  on  the  face  and  No.  62  on  the  back."  It 
seems  that  some  historians  were  not  aware  of  the  existence  of  this 
bill,  for  in  "Drake's  History  of  Boston"  and  in  "Felt's  Historical 
Account  of  Massachusetts  Currency,"  they  speak  of  this  first 
issue  being  printed  from  engraved  plates,  and  it  is  probable  that 
later  on  such  was  the  case,  for  it  would  seem  strange  that  so  large 
an  issue  should  have  been  written  by  hand ;  the  manual  labor 
neccessary  to  have  prepared  them  must  have  been  very  great, 
besides  the  time  it  must  have  taken  ;  and  the  unavoidable  difference 
in  the  looks  of  the  bills,  when  prepared  by  different  persons,  as 
they  would  neccessarily  have  to  be,  would  be  strong  evidence  that 
some  other  method  was  pursued.  This  bill,  however,  bears  such 
evident  marks  of  being  genuine,  that  we  are  led  to  suppose  it  was 
one  of  the  first  issued,  and,  in  the  anxiety  of  the  government  to 
pay  off  the  troops  at  once,  the  bills  were  written  and  not  engraved. 


138  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

The  art  of  engraving  also  was  not  practiced  to  any  extent  in  this 
country  at  that  time,  and  it  would  have  been  difficult  to  have  got 
the  plates  engraved  in  England  in  time  to  meet  the  exigency  of 
the  occasion.  For  further  information,  see  Article  on  Currency, 
by  Nat.  Paine,  in  Antiquarian  Society  Proceedings  for  1866. 

We  have  also  repi'oduced  two  later  issues  of  Colonial  and  Con- 
tinential  paper  money,  which  specimens  are  considered  very  rare. 


CARWITHAM    VIEW    OF    BOSTON. 

This  is  considered  to  be  the  oldest  known  engraved  view  of 
Boston.  It  is  reproduced  from  a  colored  print  owned  by  Mr. 
Henry  H.  Edes,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  engraved  between 
1723-30. 


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ANTIQUE   VIEWS   OF  BOSTON.  145 


THE   BLAKE   HOUSE. 

The  Blake  House,  now  the  home  of  the  Dorchester  Historical 
Society,  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  examples  of  early  colonial 
architecture  in  Dorchester ;  it  was  built  by  James  Blake,  the  sec- 
ond son  of  William  and  Agnes  Blake,  born  at  Pitminster,  England, 
in  1624.  He  came  to  Dorchester  with  his  father  about  1636,  and 
married  Elizabeth  Clapp,  the  daughter  of  Deacon  Edward  Clapp, 
in  1651.  It  was  probably  about  this  time  he  built  his  house.  He 
was  much  in  public  business,  as  the  records  of  Dorchester  prove. 
From  1658  to  1685  we  find  him  in  some  office  almost  every  year. 
As  the  minister  at  that  period  was  the  most  important  person  in 
the  town,  it  is  evident  that  James  Blake's  house  must  have  been 
one  of  the  very  best  at  that  time,  for  the  house  is  referred  to  in  the 
Dorchester  Town  Records,  page  209,  where  "  At  a  general  meeting 
of  the  town  the  6.  10.  1669  It  was  put  to  the  vote  To  build  a  house 
for  the  ministry,  to  be  such  a  house  as  James  Blakes  house  is.  namely 
38  foote  in  lenth  and  20  foote  wid  and  14  foote  betweene  Joynte 
gert  worke  "  "  The  vote  was  in  the  Affirmative." 

James  died  Jan.  28,  1700.  In  his  will  he  says :  "  I  give  and 
bequeath  to  my  son  John  Blake  and  his  heirs  my  dwelling  house, 
barne,  orchard,  yard  garden  and  ten  acres  of  land  adjoining  more 
or  less,  it  being  partly  upland  and  partly  meadow,"  valued  at  ,£400. 

John  Blake,  who  thus  became  the  second  owner  of  the  property, 
was  born  March  16,  1657.  He  was  a  deacon  in  the  church  as  his 
father  was  before  liim ;  he  died  March  2,  1718,  aged  60  years,  and 
left  no  will.  There  is,  however,  an  agreement  on  the  Suffolk  Pro- 
bate Record  concerning  the  settling  of  the  estate  in  which  it  states 
"  That  whereas  the  said  Deacon  John  Blake  died  intestate,  yet  not 
without  declaring  that  his  will  and  pleasure  was  as  to  the  settling 
of  his  estate  after  his  decease  which  was  as  follows :  His  mind  was 
that  his  two  daughters  Hannah  and  Elizabeth  should  have  a  con- 
venient Room  in  the  House  so  long  as  they  or  either  of  them 
should  Remain  unmarried  and  no  longer,  and  that  they  should  not 
have  the  liberty  of  letting  or  in  any  manner  to  convey  their  Right 
therein  to  any  other  person."  This  agreement  was  dated  Nov.  29, 
1719. 

His  two  sons,  John  and  Josiah,  inherited  the  estate  jointly. 
Josiah,  who  was  a  weaver,  died  first,  in  1748.  Among  the  funeral 
charges  was  £1  cash  paid  to  James  Foster  for  gravestones.  (These 
stones  were  obtained  from  the  old  slate  stone  quarry  on  the  Foster 


14(5  ANTIQUE   VIEWS   OF  BOSTON. 

estate  in  South  Boston.)  The  real  estate  passed  to  his  brother 
John.  Josiah  probably  died  childless.  This  second  John  Blake 
was  a  cordwainer,  or  shoemaker,  as  we  should  now  say.  He  died 
in  1773.  When  the  estate  was  divided  his  son  Samuel  received 
the  westerly  part  of  the  dwelling-house,  called  the  kitchen  end, 
and  also  one-third  part  of  the  cellar.  The  three  daughters,  Eliza- 
beth, Hannah,  and  Rachel,  who  seem  to  have  been  all  unmarried  at 
the  time,  were  given  the  balance  of  the  house  and  cellar  and  half 
of  the  barn. 

Samuel  died  in  1781,  and  the  inventory  of  his  property  does  not 
mention  the  house,  his  share  of  which  he  had  probably  made  over 
to  his  sisters.  When  it  was  sold  to  Caleb  Williams,  in  1825,  it 
was  occupied  by  Miss  Rachel  Blake,  the  youngest  daughter  of 
John.  Caleb  Williams  died  in  1842  and  left  the  house  and  land  to 
his  widow  Jane  and  two  minor  children.  The  interest  of  the 
minors  was  bought  by  their  guardian  Jane  through  a  third  party  in 
1847. 

Jane  Williams  left  the  property  to  her  son,  Josiah  F.  Williams, 
in  1891.  He  sold  same  to  Antonia  Quinsler  in  1892,  and  Quinsler 
sold  the  house  and  10,898  feet  of  land  to  the  city  of  Boston  in 
1895  for  $8,000. 

The  original  location  of  the  Blake  House  was  on  Massachusetts 
avenue  and  Cottage  street,  very  near  its  present  location.  The 
city  bought  the  land  for  greenhouse  purposes  and  gave  the  build- 
ing to  the  Dorchester  Historical  Society  and  granted  them  a  site 
for  it  on  Richardson  park,  a  tract  of  land  recently  bequeathed 
to  the  city  by  the  late  James  Richardson,  located  opposite  the  new 
parkway  near  the  birthplace  of  Edward  Everett,  formerly  the  home 
of  Lieutenant-Governor  Oliver,  and  but  a  few  hundred  yards  away 
from  the  home  of  Richard  Mather,  Humphry  Atherton,  the  old 
Dorchester  burial  ground,  the  site  of  the  first  town  house  and 
meeting  house,  and  first  free  school  in  America. 

No  more  appropriate  spot  could  have  possibly  been  selected  than 
this  land  surrounded  by  landmarks  and  memorials  of  Old  Dor- 
chester. 


I.  Cani'it/i-euH     dculp 


1  oncfon. Printed  for  S,ovrlzs  k  C  arv«,  J^.  63.St.Pcad}  CJuirc&Yard. 


A  S  outh-Eas  t  View  of  the  ClTYof  BOSTON  in  North.  America  — 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  147 

SAVIN   HELL. 

Savin  Hill  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  historical  localities 
within  the  present  limits  of  Boston.  "We  say  within  its  present 
limits  from  the  fact  that  it  is  only  within  a  few  years  past  that  the 
old  town  of  Dorchester,  of  which  Savin  Hill  formed  a  part,  has 
been  annexed  to  Boston, — or,  as  the  old  Dorchester  families  re- 
gard it,  ' '  that  Boston  was  annexed  to  Dorchester,"  for  this  town 
was  settled  somewhat  earlier  than  either  Boston  or  Charlestown, 
and  was  for  some  years  the  rival  of  Boston.  The  ship  ' '  Mary 
and  John,"  one  of  the  Winthrop  fleet,  became  separated  from  her 
consorts  during  the  voyage  and  was  the  first  to  arrive.  On  this 
vessel  were  the  first  Dorchester  settlers,  composed  of  families 
from  Devonshire,  Dorsetshire  and  Somersetshire.  Capt.  Squeb, 
not  knowing  the  harbor,  refused  to  go  up  it  any  further  than 
Nantasket  point,  now  Hull ;  here  he  put  his  passengers  and  their 
goods  ashore.  They  then  divided  into  two  parties  to  explore  the 
country.  One  party  of  ten  men  went  in  a  boat  up  the  Charles 
river  as  far  as  where  Watertown  now  is.  The  other  party  with 
their  cattle  followed  the  shore  around  till  they  came  to  a  place 
called  by  the  Indians  Mattapan  (now  Dorchester).  Joining  to 
this  place  was  a  neck  of  land  called  Mattapannock  (South  Boston) 
which  was  a  fit  place  to  turn  then-  cattle  on  to  prevent  them  from 
straying.  So  they  sent  to  their  friends  to  come  away  from  Water- 
town  and  settle  at  Mattapan.  Here  they  began  their  settlement 
the  first  of  June,  A.  D.  1630,  changing  the  name  to  Dorchester 
Plantation.  Previous  to  leaving  England  it  was  decided  that,  for 
purposes  of  mutual  defense  and  the  establishing  of  social  order, 
the  settlement  must  be  very  compact,  and  that  a  certain  plot  or 
pale  should  be  marked  out  within  which  everyone  should  build 
his  home.  This  arrangement  was  afterwards  followed  out,  and  as 
late  as  Sept.  1635  the  General  Court  ordered  "that  no  dwelling 
house  be  built  more  than  half  a  mile  from  the  meeting-house  with- 
out leave."  The  spot  selected  for  the  town  was  what  is  known  as 
Allen's  Plain  and  Rock  Hill  (now  Savin  Hill) .  The  growth  of  the 
settlement  and  the  entire  subjection  of  the  neighboring  Indians  in 
a  few  years  rendered  these  regulations  needless,  and  left  the  in- 
habitants free  to  exercise  their  own  discretion  in  selecting  their  res- 
idences. It  seems  that  many  of  the  Dorchester  settlers  were  trad- 
ing men,  who  at  first  designed  Dorchester  as  a  place  of  trade,  and 


148  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

accordingly  built  a  fort  at  Rock  Hill,  wherein  were  several  pieces 
of  ordinance,  near  the  water  side ;  but  the  channel  being  poor 
and  the  landing  difficult,  and  Boston  Harbor  being  far  more  com- 
modious, they  desisted  from  that  design,  and  many  of  them  re- 
moved afterward  to  Boston. 

Among  the  most  notable  of  the  original  settlers  of  Rock  Hill 
was  Roger  Ludlow.  He  was  a  brother-in-law  of  Gov.  Endicott, 
and  was  chosen  Assistant  or  Director  of  the  Company,  which  posi- 
tion in  the  Colonial  government  gave  him  much  influence  in  the 
Dorchester  plantation.  In  digging  his  cellar  at  Rock  Hill,  in  1631, 
he  found,  a  foot  below  the  ground,  two  pieces  of  French  money, 
one  coined  in  1596,  which  proves  that  this  place  was  visited  by 
French  trading  vessels  before  the  English  settled  here.  In  1634, 
he  was  chosen  Deputy  Governor,  and  in  the  spring  of  1636  he 
removed  with  others  to  Connecticut  and  was  chosen  Deputy  Gov- 
ernor of  the  new  Colony. 

His  house,  which  was  probably  the  best  in  Dorchester  at  that 
time,  was  situated  on  the  east  side  of  Denny  street  near  the  foot 
of  the  hill  on  which  "•  ye  great  guns  were  mounted."  He  sold  his 
house  and  lands  in  Dorchester  to  Capt.  Thomas  Hawkins.  It  was 
sold  by  Hawkins'  widow  to  John  Gornell  and  consisted  of  50  acres 
and  dwelling-house  valued  at  £110.  It  was  left  by  Gornell  to  an 
adopted  son  John  Mason,  on  the  death  of  Content  Mason,  the 
widow  of  John  Mason.  In  1749  it  was  sold  by  her  heirs  to  John 
Wiswellfor  .£345  6s.  8d.  The  heirs  of  John  Wiswell  sold  the  land 
(the  house  being  destroyed)  to  William  Worthington  in  1828  for 
the  sum  of  $3,250.  The  Worthington  heirs  are  the  present  owners 
of  the  hill. 

Among  the  other  early  settlers  at  Rock  Hill  were  Mr.  Johnson. 
John  Hill,  John  Eells,  Edward  Bullock,  Nathaniel  Patten,  Richard 
Baker,  and  Richard  Leeds.  All  these  early  settlers  afterwards 
removed  except  the  two  latter,  whose  descendants  remained  here 
until  recently. 

Our  engraving  of  the  hill  is  reproduced  from  a  painting  in  the 
possession  of  Wm.  H.  Richardson,  made  in  1830.  Two  hundred 
years  had  elapsed  since  its  first  settlement,  when  it  was  divided  up 
into  four-acre  home  lots,  and  occupied  by  earnest,  energetic  settlers, 
that  they  might  here  establish  a  place  for  trade,  and  yet,  after  two 
hundred  years,  there  were  but  three  houses  on  Savin  Hill,  one  of 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  153 

which  was  Richard  Baker's,  which  occupied  the  site  on  which  the 
Tuttle  house  is  built.  In  this  engraving  Savin  Hill  probably 
appeal's  about  as  it  did  to  the  first  settlers.  The  view  is  taken 
from  the  top  of  Meeting-house  Hill,  which  is  shown  in  the  fore- 
ground; between  it  and  Savin  Hill  is  the  meadow,  marsh,  and 
creek ;  on  the  extreme  left  is  seen  a  part  of  the  old  Tuttle  house, 
in  front  of  which,  running  towards  the  Mil,  can  be  seen  Savin  Hill 
avenue,  formerly  known  as  "Leeds'  Lane."  This  avenue  encir- 
cles the  hill ;  on  the  left  of  it  can  be  seen  the  old  Baker  house, 
used  during  the  Revolutionary  war  for  a  barracks  for  the  troops. 
The  bare  spot  near  the  top  of  the  hill  shows  the  rock  "  where  ye 
great  guns  were  mounted."  The  stone  wall  and  fence  at  the  base 
of  the  hill,  at  its  junction  with  the  meadow  and  marsh,  is  where 
the  Old  Colony  Railroad  now  runs.  The  marsh  and  beach  beyond 
the  fence  is  the  playground  and  bathing  beach  recently  acquired 
by  the  city.  The  plain  surrounding  the  hill  is  the  place  where  the 
early  settlers  lived.  The  stone  walls,  and  in  one  case  an  old 
orchard,  that  remain  there,  plainly  mark  the  spot  where  their 
houses  were  built.  The  New  England  Guards  camped  annually 
on  the  level  ground  on  the  south  side  of  the  hill.  The  illustration 
shown  here  was  produced  from  an  oil  painting  in  the  room  of  the 
Bostonian  Society  in  the  Old  State  House.  It  shows  the  camp  as 
it  appeared  in  1819,  with  the  large  bell-shaped  tents  in  the  fore- 
ground, and  the  high  rocky  hill  covered  with  cedar-trees.  When 
Lafayette  visited  Boston  in  1824  he  attended  the  camp,  and  fired 
one  of  the  field  pieces,  putting  a  shot  through  the  centre  of  the 
target. 

It  received  its  present  name  of  Savin  Hill  from  Joseph  Tuttle 
when  he  purchased  the  old  Richard  Baker  house  in  1822  and  made 
a  seaside  hotel  out  of  it.  This  was  one  of  the  first  hotels  of  this 
description  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston.  It  was  called  Savin  Hill  on 
account  of  the  large  number  of  savin-trees  growing  on  it.  About 
fifty  years  ago  two  avenues  encircling  the  hill  were  laid  out  on 
which  many  fine  residences  were  erected,  containing  beautifully 
laid  out  grounds.  The  pressure  of  population,  however,  during 
the  past  few  years  has  caused  several  of  the  estates  to  be  cut  up 
into  building  lots. 

The  hill  is  rocky,  and  with  its  woods  and  the  magnificent  view 
that  can  be  obtained  of  the  surrounding  country  from  its  summit, 
—  "where  ye  great  guns  were  mounted,"  —  cannot  be  surpassed  by 


154  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

any  other  place  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston.  A  person  in  ascending 
the  hill  will  plunge  into  a  wilderness,  where,  in  some  instances, 
progress  is  forbidden  by  beetling  cliffs  and  thorny  thickets.  There 
is  not  a  more  desirable  spot  in  Boston  for  a  natural  park  than  this 
historic  hill,  or  where  a  park  can  be  made  for  so  little  expense. 
From  time  immemorial  it  has  been  used  by  the  people  for  a  picnic 
ground,  and  it  should  be  reserved  for  this  purpose  before  it  is 
built  on  and  it  becomes  too  late,  as  would  then  be  the  case. 

TREMONT   STREET   MALL,    LOOKING   NORTH. 

This  half-tone  illustration  is  reproduced  from  a  painting  made 
by  a  daughter  of  General  Henry  Knox,  who  resided  near  the  West- 
street  wall,  shown  in  the  picture.  It  was  painted  about  the  year 
1800,  and  was  purchased  by  W.  W.  Greenough  and  seventeen 
other  citizens,  and  presented  to  the  Boston  Public  Library.  In 
the  Trustees'  room  there  is  a  letter  dated  March  17,  1875,  by  B. 
B.  Shillber,  giving  a  description  of  same.  This  picture  was  made 
before  Park  street  was  laid  out.  On  the  left  is  seen  the  arch 
forming  the  West  street  entrance  to  the  Common,  and  in  the  far 
distance  at  the  end  of  the  mall  the  King's  Chapel  can  be  faintly 
seen.  On  the  right  is  the  brick  wall  that  surrounded  Swans  or 
Washington  gardens. 

TREMONT   STREET   MALL,    LOOKING   SOUTH. 

This  view  is  taken  from  near  the  same  spot  as  the  previous  one, 
but  looking  in  the  opposite  direction.  On  the  right  is  Boston 
Common  with  the  old  wooden  fence,  and  the  arch  forming  the  West 
street  entrance  to  the  Common.  The  trees  receding  along  the 
mall  disclose  the  river  beyond,  and  Billy  Foster's  house,  where 
the  Hotel  Pelham  now  stands,  on  the  corner  of  Boylston  street. 
A  part  of  the  land  was  bought  for  the  burial  ground. 

On  the  left  is  the  corner  of  Tremont  and  West  streets,  showing 
the  same  brick  wall  as  is  seen  in  the  previous  picture.  On  the 
opposite  corner  is  the  hay  scales ;  then  comes  Hatch's  Tavern, 
with  Frothingham's  carriage-factory  in  the  rear.  Farther  on  is 
seen  the  old  Haymarket  Theatre,  erected  in  1796,  said  to  have 
been  the  largest  and  best  arranged  theatre  in  America  at  that 
time.  This  picture  was  painted  by  Robertson  for  John  Howard 
Payne,  the  author  of  "  Home,  Sweet  Home."  It  was  purchased 
by  the  Boston  Public  Library,  in  September  1871. 


■•■. 


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•      If 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  157 


THE  MINOT  HOUSE. 

The  artist  has  reproduced  in  this  sketch  a  venerable  structure, 
which  enjoyed  the  peculiar  distinction  of  being  the  only  building 
within  the  municipality  of  Boston  that  was  ever  attacked  by  any 
hostile  Indians.  This  building  was  situated  on  Chickatawbut 
street,  Neponset,  Dorchester,  which  territory  as  far  south  as  the 
Neponset  river  was  annexed  to  Boston  a  few  years  ago.  Near 
this  spot  on  this  beautiful  river  were  the  dwelling  places  of  the 
Massachusetts  tribe  of  Indians,  over  which  Chickatawbut  held 
undisputed  sway  before  the  arrival  of  the  pale-faces  on  his  coast. 
This  building  was  built  about  1640,  and  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
November,  1874.  At  the  time  of  its  destruction  it  was  one  of  the 
oldest  buildings  in  this  part  of  the  country.  In  July,  1675,  the  house 
was  occupied  by  the  family  of  John  Minot.  One  Sabbath  while  all  but 
the  maid-servant  and  two  young  children  were  absent,  an  Indian, 
who  had  been  watching  his  opportunity,  came  to  the  door  and  at- 
tempted to  enter  the  house.  Finding  the  door  fastened,  he  tried 
to  gain  an  entrance  by  the  window.  The  young  woman  had  ob- 
served the  Indians  motions.  She  had  the  presence  of  mind  to  hide 
the  children  under  two  brass  kettles,  and  then  run  up  stairs  and 
charge  a  musket.  The  savage,  quicker  than  she,  loaded  his  gun 
and  fired,  but  missed  his  aim,  our  heroine  now  discharged  her 
musket  and  wounded  the  Indian  in  the  shoulder,  but  be  was  not  so 
disabled  as  to  give  over  his  design,  and  still  attempted  to  force  his 
way  through  the  window.  The  maid  then  seized  a  shovel  full  of 
hot  coals  and  thrust  into  the  fellows  face.  This  decided  the  con- 
test in  her  favor.  The  Indian  fled  to  the  woods  where  he  was 
afterwards  found  dead,  five  miles  from  the  house,  his  face  scorched 
and  scarred  by  the  burning  embers.  This  was  probably  a  stray 
warrior  of  King  Phillip's  partisans,  and  was  the  nearest  any  hostile 
Indians  approached  the  New  England  capital  during  the  war. 

The  family  of  Minot,  in  America,  probably  originated  with 
George,  the  first  settler  of  this  name  in  Dorchester,  and  his  name 
is  especially  honored  by  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  as 
one  of  its  founders.  It  is  said  that  in  the  old  burying  ground, 
at  Dorchester,  there  was  once  an  old  stone  with  the  following  in- 
scription : 

*■  Here  lie  the  bodies  of  Unite  Humphry  and  Shining  Minot 
Such  names  as  these  never  die  not." 


158  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


THE   PIERCE   HOUSE. 


Within  a  few  hundred  feet  of  the  Minot  house  stands  another 
old  building  of  about  the  same  date.  This  building  is  situated  on 
Oak  Avenue,  Adams  street,  Dorchester,  now  a  part  of  Boston. 
It  was  built  by  Robert  Pierce  in  1640,  and  has,  since  his  death  in 
1664,  been  occupied  by  his  descendants. 


In  the  year  1629-30,  among  the  divers  godly  persons  in  Devon- 
shire, Somersetshire,  Dorsetshire,  and  other  places,  who  dissented 
from  the  way  of  worship  then  established  by  law  in  "ye  realme 
of  England  in  ye  reign  of  King  Charles  ye  first,"  to  use  the  words 
from  an  old  MS.,  were  Robert  Pierce  and  his  wife  Anne,  who  set 
sail  from  Plymouth,  England,  in  the  vessel  called  the  "Mary  and 
John,"  of  about  400  tons,  commanded  by  Capt.  Squeb.     They 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  161 

sailed  from  Plymouth  March  20,  1629-30,  having  a  comfortable 
though  long  passage,  and  arrived  at  Nantasket,  now  Hull,  May 
20th,  following.  They  chartered  with  Capt.  Squeb  to  carry  them 
to  Charles  river,  but  after  entering  the  harbor  he  was  uncertain  of 
the  course,  and  refused  to  carry  them  further  than  Nantasket. 

Robert  Pierce  made  his  way  to  Neponset,  settled  on  Pine  Neck, 
no^Y  Port  Norfolk,  near  the  lower  part  of  Walnut  street.  A  few 
years  later,  previous  to  1640,  he  moved  on  to  the  hill,  his  boun- 
dary lines  running  about  40  rods  wide  from  north  to  south,  from 
the  tide  water  on  the  east,  and  as  far  west  as  it  was  safe  to  occupy 
on  account  of  the  Indians.  He  was  known  as  Robert  Pierce  "of 
the  great  lotts,"  and  several  generations  after  the  term  of  "the 
great  lots"  was  used  in  conveyances  to  designate  property  once 
owned  by  him. 

Several  articles  of  furniture,  etc.,  which  he  brought  from  Eng- 
land are  now  in  the  possession  of  his  descendants,  and,  as  a 
reminder  of  home,  he  preserved  two  small  biscuits,  engravings  of 
which  are  presented  here,  together  with  that  of  his  house,  built 
about  1640.  The  frame  of  the  building  is  of  oak,  which  grew  in 
abundance  where  the  house  now  stands,  one  stump  alone  remain- 
ing of  the  original  growth,  the  others  having  been  blown  over  in 
the  great  gale  some  sixty  years  ago.  Some  idea  of  the  size  of 
the  frame  can  be  obtained  from  the  fact  that  the  timber  which 
held  the  stairs  is  10  inches  by  12,  and  all  are  pinned  together  with 
wooden  tree-nails,  like  the  frame  of  a  ship.  The  chimney  in  the 
center,  with  fireplace  and  oven,  covered  the  space  of  a  good  sized 
room,  and  across  the  center  of  each  room  the  beams  remain  in 
sight,  showing  the  marks  of  the  axe  by  which  they  were  hewn 
into  shape.  The  walls  still  remain  packed  with  sea  weed  to  make 
them  warm,  and  the  outside  changed  only  by  placing  new 
shingles  and  clapboards  where  the  others  were  worn  away  by  age. 
The  house  has  descended  from  father  to  son  and  has  always  been 
owned  and  occupied  by  a  lineal  descendant.  During  the  Revolu- 
tion Col.  Samuel  Pierce  owned  it,  and  a  portion  of  his  regiment 
was  quartered  here  in  the  attic  for  a  time,  while  awaiting  orders. 
The  house  is  on  Oak  Avenue,  Adams  street,  that  street  being  for- 
merly the  only  road  from  Boston  to  Plymouth. 


162  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

VIEW   OF   BOSTON   TAKEN   ON   THE   ROAD   TO   DORCHESTER. 
GOVERNOR   SHIRLEY   MANSION, 

This  is  the  title  of  our  frontispiece,  which  is  one  of  the  most 
valuable  engravings  in  this  collection  ;  it  is  extremely  rare  and  the 
author  is  aware  of  but  two  copies  of  it  being  in  existance  in  this 
city.  This  copy  is  reproduced,  and  also  a  number  of  other  engrav- 
ings in  this  work,  from  a  large  collection  of  charts  bound  in  book 
form  in  the  possession  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  and 
"Published  according  to  Act  of  Parbament,  May  30th,  1776,  by 
J.  F.  W.  Des  Barres,  Esq.,  for  the  use  of  the  Eoyal  Navy  in  North 
America."  The  views  were  published  in  connection  with  the  charts 
for  the  use  of  the  army  and  navy  then  operating  in  and  about  the 
vicinity  of  Boston  during  the  seige  of  same.  In  the  foreground  is 
presented  a  pastoral  scene,  beautifully  laid  out  grounds  including 
gardens,  lawns,  pastures,  groves,  hills,  brooks,  and  a  beautiful 
prospect  of  the  South  and  Back  Bays,  with  a  view  of  the  town  of 
Boston  in  the  background ;  with  its  tall  spires  and  steeples  of  meet- 
ing houses  and  churches,  backed  by  the  high  hilly  land  of  West 
and  Beacon  Hill,  crowned  with  the  beacon  on  top,  and  connected 
with  Roxbury  on  the  left  by  the  Neck,  which  was  the  only  connect- 
ing link  Boston  had  with  the  main  land  before  the  building  of  the 
bridges.  On  the  right  hand  of  the  Neck  will  be  observed  the 
South  Bay  and  on  the  left  the  Back  Bay,  on  the  main  land  on  the 
Roxbury  side  will  be  seen  a  large  fine  mansion  built  by  Gov. 
Shirley  in  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  its  oaken  frame  and  other 
materials,  even  the  brick,  which  were  of  three  different  sizes,  were 
brought  from  England,  at  a  vast  expense.  Shirley  Place,  so  the 
governor  styled  it,  is  a  large  square,  two-story,  hip-roofed  struct- 
ure with  a  stone  basement,  having  a  piazza  at  each  end  and  sur- 
mounted by  an  observatory  enclosed  with  a  railing.  This  is  the 
most  elaborate  and  palatial  of  the  old  Roxbury  mansions,  and  not- 
withstanding the  vicissitudes  it  has  undergone,  it  is  extremely  well 
preserved.  One  of  its  peculiarities  is  its  double  front,  that  facing 
the  harbor  on  the  side  farthest  from  the  road  being  undoubtedly 
the  true  one.  The  upper  windows  on  this  side  afford  a  fine  view 
of  the  city,  the  hai'bor,  and  the  islands.  Each  front  is  approached 
by  a  flight  of  stone  steps  flanked  by  an  iron  railing  of  an  antique 
and  rustic  pattern  but  now  rusted  by  the  elements.  Entering  the 
northern  or  proper  front  you  find  yourself  in  a  spacious  hall  of 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  165 

grand  proportions.  To  the  right  a  broad  staircase  leads  to  a  bal- 
cony extending  around  to  the  left,  where  two  doors  open  into  the 
guest  chambers,  in  which  Washington,  Franklin,  Lafayette,  Daniel 
Webster,  and  many  other  celebrated  men  have  from  time  to  time 
been  accommodated.  From  this  balcony  the  musicians  entertained 
the  company  at  the  table  in  the  hall.  The  carved  balusters  around 
the  staircase  and  gallery  are  of  three  different  patterns,  and  the 
rail  surmounting  them  is  inlaid  at  the  top.  The  base  of  the  balus- 
trade and  staircase  is  also  adorned  with  a  carved  running  vine. 
The  ceiling  around  the  main  hall  is  beautifully  stuccoed,  and  its 
floor  was  originally  painted  to  represent  a  carpet.  To  the  right 
and  left  of  the  hall  are  doors  leading  into  the  reception  room,  par- 
lors, etc.  Upon  great  occasions  the  two  halls  were  thrown  into  one 
by  opening  the  folding  doors  between. 

Washington  paid  a  visit  to  Gov.  Shirley  in  March  1756  and  re- 
lated to  him  the  circumstances  of  his  sons  death,  at  the  battle  of 
the  Monongahela,  where  Gen.  Braddock  was  defeated  and  killed. 
He  was  well  recieved  and  much  noticed  by  the  governoi,  with 
whom  he  continued  ten  days,  mixing  constantly  in  society,  visit- 
ing Castle  William  and  other  objects  worthy  of  notice  in  the  vicin- 
ity, little  dreaming  that  it  would  one  day  become  the  theatre  of 
his  first  great  military  achievement.  In  a  letter  to  his  friend  Lord 
Fairfax,  he  says.  "I  have  had  the  honor  of  being  introduced  to 
several  governors,  especially  Mr.  Shirley,  whose  character  and 
appearance  have  perfeetly  charmed  me.  His  every  word  and  action 
discover  in  him  the  gentleman  and  politician  ". 

The  old  house  seems  queerly  constructed,  so  numerous  are  its 
compartments  and  closets ;  many  of  which  are  let  into  the  solid 
walls.  The  wine-closets  in  the  guest  chamber  could  doubtless  tell 
of  many  a  convivial  gathering,  and  of  mirth  and  jollity  unbounded 
in  the  times  gone  by.  Wilbam  Shirley  was  Governor  of  Massa- 
chusetts from  1741  to  1756.  He  was  the  prime  mover  in  the  ex- 
pedition against  Cape  Breton  in  1745  which  resulted  in  the  capture 
of  Louisburg,  one  of  the  strongest  fortifications  in  America,  by  a 
force  of  four  thousand  New  England  men  led  by  Col.  William 
Pepperell,  aided  by  a  British  fleet  under  Com.  Warren.  The  cel- 
ebrated preacher  Whitefield  furnished  the  motto,  "  Nil  desperan- 
dum  christo  duci,"  giving  the  expedition  the  air  of  a  crusade 
against  the  Catholics,  made  a  recruiting  house  of  the  sanctuary, 
and  the  stout  old  Puritan,  Parson  Moody,  one  of  his  followers, 


166  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

joined  the  troop  as  chaplain  and  actually  carried  an  axe  on  his 
shoulders  with  which  to  hew  down  the  Catholic  images  in  the 
churches  of  the  fated  city.  What  a  change  has  now  come  over  the 
scene.  Parson  Moo.dy  would  not  now  have  to  go  far  to  work  out 
his  mission  of  destruction,  for  within  a  few  rods  of  the  Shirley 
house  is  now  erected  a  Catholic  church  and  nunnery.  Truly  time 
works  wonders.  Gov.  Shirley  died  March  24,  1771,  and  was  in- 
terred in  the  burying  ground  of  King's  chapel,  of  which  edifice  he 
laid  the  foundation  stone.  His  funeral  was  attended  by  the 
Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Company,  and  three  volleys  were 
fired  over  his  grave,  and  as  the  long  procession  was  moving,  a  de- 
tachment, at  intervals,  discharged  seventy-six  guns,  to  denote  the 
governors  age.  Shirley  was  a  man  of  great  industry  and  ability, 
thoroughly  able,  enterprising  and  deservedly  popular.  In  1764 
the  estate  was  bought  by  Judge  Eleakim  Hutchinson,  Shirley's 
son-in-law.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Governor's  Council  and 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  Suffolk  and  died 
in  June  1775.  Having  been  a  loyalist,  his  estate  was  confiscated 
and  sold  to  Hon.  John  Read.  During  1775  it  was  made  a  barrack 
for  our  soldiers  and  was  greatly  injured  thereby.  Col.  Asa  Whit- 
comb's  regiment  marched  from  here  to  Dorchester  Heights  on  the 
evening  of  March  4th,  1776.  It  was  afterward  occupied  by  M. 
Dubuque  who  emigrated  from  Martinique,  and  whose  cook,  Julian, 
kept  the  celebrated  restaurant  at  the  corner  of  Milk  and  Washing- 
ton streets,  mention  of  which  has  been  previously  made  in  this 
work.  The  estate  passed  through  many  hands  among,  them  that 
of  Giles  Alexander,  whom  tradition  says  treated  his  wife  so  ill  that 
one  evening  a  party  of  young  men  of  some  of  the  best  families  in 
Boston  came  disguised  to  his  house,  broke  off  the  heads  of  two 
stone  lions  who  kept  guard  at  the  front  gate,  and  wound  up  their 
frolic  by  bestowing  on  the  obnoxious  proprietor  a  complete  suit 
of  tar  and  feathers.  A  "labyrinth"  in  front  of  the  house  consti- 
tuted the  limit  of  Mrs.  Alexander's  prescribed  bounds  for  out-door 
exercise.  In  1798  the  estate  was  purchased  by  Capt.  James  Magee, 
who,  while  in  command  of  the  privateer  brig  "General  Arnold," 
was  shipwrecked  in  Plymouth  Harbor.  The  brig  broke  from  her 
anchorage  in  the  "Cow  yard"  and  was  driven  by  the  violence  of 
the  gale  upon  the  low  sand  flats.  It  was  a  terrible  snow  storm  and 
so  intense  was  the  cold  that  seventy-eight  of  the  crew  including 
the  captain  were  frozen  to  death,  and  from  the  merciless  pelting 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  169 

of  the  waves,  'which  froze  hard  to  them,  they  looked  more  like 
solid  statues  of  ice  than  human  bodies.  They  were  all  buried  in 
one  grave  on  Burial  Hill,  Plymouth,  where  a  tablet  is  erected  to 
their  memory.  It  was  three  days  before  the  survivors,  twenty- 
eight  in  number,  could  be  rescued  by  the  men  of  Plymouth ;  they 
had  been  during  that  time  huddled  together  on  the  quarter-deck 
with  no  extra  clothing,  with  no  shelter  but  the  skies,  and  no  food, 
they  were  more  dead  than  alive  when  rescued.  Magee's  widow 
sold  the  estate  to  Gov.  Eustis  in  1819  and  there  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days,  and  died  there  in  1825,  aged  71  years.  Gov. 
Eustis  was  very  hospitable,  which  procured  him  the  acquaintance  of 
many  persons  of  distinction.  Among  the  guests  that  accepted  his 
hospitality  was  John  Quincy  Adams,  Henry  Clay,  Daniel  Webster, 
Aaron  Burr  and  John  C.  Calhoun.  One  of  his  visitors  was  Lafay- 
ette, the  guest  of  the  Nation,  and  his  compatriot  in  the  army ;  their 
meeting  was  very  affectionate,  they  embraced  each  other  for  some 
minutes,  Eustis  exclaiming  "I  am  the  happiest  man  that  ever 
lived."  While  a  guest  of  the  Governoi-'s,  Lafayette  attended  a  tar- 
get practice  by  artillery,  at  Savin  Hill,  and  put  a  shot  through  the 
target  nearly  in  the  centre. 

The  Shirley  estate  was  bought  a  few  years  ago  by  W.  Elliott 
Woodward,  who  cut  it  up  into  lots,  run  a  street  through  the  estate 
which  was  named  Shirley  street,  the  mansion  was  then  removed 
from  Dudley  street,  where  it  had  stood  for  over  a  hundred  years, 
to  Shirley  street.  On  the  south  of  the  Shirley  estate  ran  the 
brook  forming  the  boundry  between  Roxbury  and  Dorchester,  it 
can  be  seen  on  the  right  hand  side  of  the  engraving,  entering  the 
South  Bay.  The  brook  formed  what  is  now  known  as  Brook 
avenue,  the  brook  running  through  a  sewer  in  the  street. 


170  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

VIEWS  OF  BOSTON,  FROM  WILLIS'  CHEEK  ON  THE  NOETH,  DOECHESTEE 

NECK  ON  THE  SOUTH,  AND  A  VIEW  OF  THE  HARBOR  FROM 

FORT  HILL. 

These  views  were  reproduced  from  Des  Barre's  Coast  Charts, 
published  in  London,  in  1776,  of  which  frequent  mention  has  been 
made  in  this  work.  The  view  of  Boston  from  Willis'  Creek,  now 
known  as  Miller  Biver,  which  separates  Cambridge  from  Somer- 
ville,  shows  accurately  the  appearance  of  Boston,  on  the  north 
side,  at  the  time  of  the  commencement  of  the  Revolutionary  war. 
On  the  right  of  the  engraving  will  be  observed  the  Charles  Biver, 
which  was  not  crossed  at  that  time  by  a  single  bridge.  Then  comes 
the  high  lands,  forming  the  western  boundary  of  the  town,  thence 
running  easterly  on  the  slope  of  the  hills,  are  the  buildings,  wharfs 
and  shipping.  Back  of  the  town  and  shipping,  is  seen  the  mem- 
orable Dorchester  Heights,  from  which  the  second  view  was  taken 
entitled,  "  A  View  of  Boston  from  Dorchester  Neck,"  now  known 
as  South  Boston  Point.  This  view  shows  us  the  south  side  of  Bos- 
ton taken  at  the  same  time  as  the  one  on  the  north.  On  the  right 
of  the  view  is  seen  Noddle's  Island,  now  East  Boston,  the  en- 
trance to  the  Mystic  and  Charles  Rivers  and  the  place  from  whence 
the  previous  view  was  taken ;  then  comes  the  town  and  high  land, 
consisting  of  Pemberton,  Beacon  and  West  Hills.  Still  further 
along  on  the  left  will  be  observed  the  Neck,  with  the  fortifications 
at  its  naiTOwest  part,  over  which  float  the  flag  of  England.  Next 
comes  the  main  land,  on  which  the  town  of  Roxbury  is  situated.  The 
water  on  this  side  of  the  Neck  is  what  is  now  known  as  the  South 
Bay,  formerly  called  Gallow's  Bay,  on  account  of  the  Neck  being 
used  as  the  place  for  executions.  The  water  that  can  be  seen 
on  the  other  side  of  the  Neck  is  the  Back  Bay,  now  filled  in  and 
built  over  by  the  finest  residences  of  Boston.  In  the  background, 
beyond  the  Neck,  will  be  seen  the  high  lands  of  Brookline.  "  A 
View  of  the  Harbor  from  Fort  Hill,"  presents  an  accurate  view  of 
the  Harbor,  as  it  appears,  looking  toward  the  eastward  from  Bos- 
ton, and  shows  all  the  principal  islands  and  the  entrance  to  the 
harbor  quite  distinctly.  The  island  the  farthest  to  the  right,  with 
the  buildings  on  it,  is  Castle  Island,  on  which  was  the  Castle,  now 
called  Fort  Independence.  The  next  island  to  the  left,  which  can 
be  distinguished  by  the  three  trees  on  the  bluff,  is  Long  Island. 
Then  comes  Governor's  or,  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  Winthrop's 
Island,  because  the  island  was  granted  to  Governor  Winthrop  very 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  175 

early  by  the  Colonial  Legislature.  This  island  is  the  most  promi- 
nent one  in  the  engraving  and  can  be  distinaruished  from  the  others 
by  the  row  of  trees  on  its  southerly  side.  Then  in  the  distance,  be- 
hind the  boat's  rigging,  can  be  seen  Deer  Island ;  then  comes  Apple 
Island,  with  three  trees  on  the  northerly  side  ;  the  low  lying  land 
beyond  is  Point  Shirley,  on  which  can  be  seen  four  trees ;  then 
comes  Winthrop.  On  the  extreme  left  is  seen  a  high  point  of 
land  jutting  out  into  the  foreground,  this  is  Noddles  Island,  now 
East  Boston ;  the  shoal  extending  out  beyond  this  point  is  Bird 
Island  Shoal,  once  an  island  of  considerable  size. 


VIEW  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BOSTON  FROM  BREED  S  HILL, 
CHAELESTOWN. 

This  engraving  is  reproduced  from  the  Mass.  Magazine  for 
June,  1791,  and  the  following  description  accompanies  it:  "  The 
present  plate  exhibits  a  perspective  view  of  Boston,  the  adjacent 
country,  and  islands  of  the  harbor,  as  they  crowd  on  the  view 
from  the  memorable  heights  of  Charlestown.  It  occupies  a  rich 
variety  of  scenery,  whether  the  eye  is  directed  towards  a  town 
that  has  lately  emerged  like  a  phoenix  from  its  ashes,  or  takes  in 
that  masterpiece  of  ingenuity  which  unites  opposing  and  remote 
points  of  land  together.  The  towering  height  of  Beacon  Hill 
column,  the  tall  spires  of  majestic  steeples,  the  flag  of  commerce 
waving  on  the  sturdy  mast,  the  immensity  of  different  buildings, 
the  extension  of  wharves  projecting  on  the  billows,  the  lucid  ap- 
pearance of  Castle  William,  the  sea-green  beauties  of  the  rolling 
flood  and  smiling  fields  in  summer's  robe  arrayed,  are  happily 
united  in  the  charming  prospect  and  arise  in  such  animated  gra- 
dations as  leaves  no  vacuum.  Perhaps  it  may  not  be  amiss  to 
add  that  Breed's  Hill  and  Dorchester  Heights  (both  of  which  are 
within  the  point  of  vision,)  are  the  high  places  of  America  sacred 
to  independence." 


176  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

THE  OLD  ELM. 

The  following  terse  history  of  the  ' '  Old  Elm"  was  copied  from 
an  oval  tablet  on  the  iron  gate  that  guards  the  enclosure  where 
once  flourished  this  venerable  land  mark : 

THE  OLD    ELM. 

This  tree  has  been  standing  here  from  an  unknown  penod.   It  is  believed  to  have  existed 

before  the  settlement  of  Eoston,  being  fully  grown  in  1722.     Exhibited  marks 

of  old    age  1792,  and  was  nearly  destroyed  by  a  storm  in  1832.     Protected   by   an   iron 

enclosure  m  1S54. 
J.    V.  C.  Smith,  Mayor. 

During  a  severe  storm  in  the  month  of  February,  1876,  it  was 
destroyed,  notwithstanding  the  great  care  taken  to  preserve  it,  its 
branches  being  secured  by  iron  bars,  bands  and  braces. 

For  years  it  was  one  of  the  most  important  historical  attractions 
of  the  Common  and  it  may  be  said  of  the  city.  It  was  of  great 
size,  measuring  twenty-four  feet  in  circumference  and  was  seventy 
two  feet  high.  It  is  believed  to  have  been  nearly  one  hundred 
years  old  when  first  seen  by  white  men,  and  in  Bonner's  map  of 
Boston,  published  in  1722,  it  is  indicated  as  a  full  grown  tree. 

A  fine  young  elm  now  spreads  its  branches  from  the  iron  en- 
closure and  bids  fair  to  long  perpetuate  the  memory  of  the  parent 
tree.  In  the  earliest  maps  of  Boston  but  three  trees  are  shown  on 
the  Common,  one  of  these  was  the  Old  Elm,  then  known  as  the 
"  Great  Tree."     Near  it  stood  the  Powder  House. 

The  supposition  is  that  the  witchcraft  and  other  executions  which 
took  place  on  the  Common  in  our  early  history  were  performed 
from  limbs  of  this  tree.  The  shooting  of  Matoonas,  one  of  King 
Philips'  sagamores,  is  thought  to  have  occurred  under  its  bran- 
ches, and  it  is  certain  that  during  the  revolutionary  struggles  it 
was  one  of  the  places  of  constant  resort  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty. 
Many  a  tory  was  hung  in  effigy  from  its  branches.  Perhaps  on 
this  account  it  acquired  the  name  of  "  Liberty  Tree,"  which  it  bore 
in  1784,  in  honor  of  its  sister  elm  long  and  familiarly  known  by 
that  name  at  the  corner  of  Essex  and  Washington  Sts.,  and  which 
had  been  destroyed  by  the  British  in  1755.  The  engraving — 
a  Mezzotinte — here  given  of  the  Old  Elm  was  reproduced  from  the 
June  number  of  the  Polyanthos  for  1813,    In  addition  to  the  Elm 


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tVNTIQUE   VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


179 


it  shows  the  Frog  pond,  with  Beacon  street  at  the  right  and  the 
old  rope  walks  at  the  left.  "The  view  was  drawn  and  engraved," 
the  periodical  says,  "by  Master  J.  Kidder,  a  youth  of  Boston  and 
is  his  first  essay  in  the  art  of  aqua  tinta."  The  view  was  taken 
from  the  wall  near  the  head  of  West  street. 


OLD  ELM  DESTROYED  FEBRUARY  1 5,  1 876. 

The  above  view  of  the  Old  Elm  was  made  from  a  photograph 
taken  a  short  time  before  its  destruction.  A  limited  edition  of 
the  Antique  Views  of  Boston  is  bound  with  a  veneer  made  from 
this  venerable  tree,  covering  the  entire  back  cover,  on  which  is 
printed  a  view  of  the  old  tree  and  an  autograph  letter  from  Mayor 
Cobb  (who  was  mayor  of  Boston  at  the  time  of  its  destruction), 
certifying  to  its  authenticity. 


180  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

SOUTH-EAST   VIEW   FROM    AN    EMINENCE   NEAR   BOSTON 
COMMON,   1790. 

This  interesting  view  was  reproduced  from  the  Massachusetts- 
Magazine  for  November,  1790,  by  the  Photo-Electrotype  Engrav- 
ing Process.  The  following  descriptive  matter  is  copied  from  the 
magazine:  "The  rising  ground,  from  whence  the  accompanying 
prospect  was  taken,  is  situated  near  Governor  Hancock's  mansion, 
and  commands  a  beautiful  view  of  the  south-east  of  Boston,  with 
a  vast  extent  of  private  and  public  buildings,  wharves,  shipping, 
and  water.  At  a  distance  are  seen,  the  memorable  heights  of 
Dorchester,  whose  formidable  appearance  in  1776,  discomfited  the 
military  nerves  of  Britain,  and  eventually  necessitated  a  retreat 
from  the  capital  of  Massachusetts.  The  great  variety  of  objects, 
that  crowd  upon  the  point  of  vision,  are  too  numerous  for  detail. 
Suffice  it  to  observe,  that  the  busy  din  of  the  town,  and  the  quiet 
stillness  of  the  rural  hamlet,  appear  in  striking  contrast,  and  fur- 
nish a  luxuriant  feast  to  the  contemplative  and  philosophic  mind." 

The  engraving  shows  distinctly  the  Neck  that  connects  the  town 
with  the  mainland,  to  the  right  of  the  Neck  is  seen  the  Back  Bay, 
on  the  left  the  South  Ba3'.  In  the  background,  on  the  extreme 
right,  will  be  observed  the  hills  of  Brookline,  Roxbury  and  Dorches- 
ter, then  a  gap  between  the  hills  which  are  connected  by  another 
neck,  with  three  other  hills  on  the  left,  formerly  known  as  Dor- 
chester Heights,  now  South  Boston.  On  these  three  hills  are  now 
situated  the  following  places :  On  the  one  the  farthest  to  the 
right,  Thomas  Park  and  the  Reservoir ;  on  the  middle  one,  the  In- 
stitution for  the  Blind ;  and  on  the  one  farthest  to  the  left,  In- 
dependence Square.  The  foreground  of  this  engraving  shows  the 
Common,  the  Old  Elm  and  the  Tremont  Street  Mall.  The  shore 
line  of  the  Back  Bay,  as  shown  here,  is  about  where  Charles 
street  now  is.  The  view  was  probably  taken  from  the  site  of  the 
New  State  House.  The  building  in  the  foreground,  at  the  right, 
is  thought  to  be  that  of  Hancock's  or  Copely's.  Nearly  all  the 
territory  shown  here  is  now  included  in  Boston  ;  the  Public  Gar- 
den and  the  finest  residences  in  the  city  are  located  on  what  was 
the  Back  Bay,  the  larger  portion  of  which  has  been  filled  in  dur- 
ing the  past  twenty-five  years.  That  portion  of  Dorchester,  now 
South  Boston,  was  annexed  in  1804,  Roxbury  in  1868  and  Dor- 
"hester  in  1870. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  185 

nix's  mate  island. 

This  is  supposed  to  be  the  only  known  view  that  there  is  in  ex- 
istence that  shows  Nix's  Mate  Island  before  its  destruction.  It  is 
copied  from  Des  Barre's  Coast  Charts,  frequent  mention  of  which 
has  been  before  made  in  this  work.  The  site  of  this  island  is  now 
marked  by  a  peculiarly  shaped  monument, — a  tall  pyramid  upon  a 
stone  base, — the  whole  about  thirty-two 
feet  in  height,  and  resting  on  what,  at  low 
tide,  appears  to  be  an  extensive  shoal, 
covered  with  stones  of  a  suitable  size  for 
ballast  for  vessels.  This  shoal  of  about  an 
acre  in  extent  is  what  remains  of  a  once 
respectable  island,  as  far  as  size  is  con- 
cerned, as  may  be  seen  by  the  following 
record  made  in  1636:  "There  is  twelve  nix:s  mate. 

acres  of  land  granted  to  John  Gallop  upon  Nix's  Island,  to  enjoy 
to  him  and  his  heirs  forever,  if  the  island  be  so  much."  This  view 
of  the  island  was  taken  about  1775,  and  shows  the  island  very 
much  washed  away  on  all  sides.  Long  Island  Head,  on  which  a 
light-house  is  now  situated,  is  seen  on  the  right  of  Nix's  Mate. 
Long  Island  then  stretches  away  on  the  left,  showing  the  cove 
where  the  fishermen  now  are,  which  is  fringed  with  trees  in  this 
engraving.     To  the  right  of  Long  Island  Head  are  seen  the  hills  of 

©  ©  O  C 

Dorchester  and  Roxbury,  and  the  town  of  Boston.  There,  is  a 
story  connected  with  this  island,  that  the  mate  of  a  certain  Cap- 
tain Nix  was  executed  on  it  for  the  killing  of  his  master ;  and  that 
he,  to  the  time  of  his  death,  insisted  upon  his  innocence,  and  told 
the  hangman  that,  in  proof  of  it,  the  island  would  be  washed  away. 
The  island  was  used  for  many  years  for  the  execution  and  burial  of 
pirates.  Captain  Frye  and  others  were  gibbeted  on  this  island  as 
a  warning  and  spectacle  to  others,  especially  seafaring  men.  There 
was  once  land  enough  on  this  island  to  answer  for  pasturage  ground 
and  less  than  a  hundred  years  back  the  island  was  used  for  the  pur- 
pose of  grazing  sheep. 


186  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

THE    CASTLE. 

Very  soon  after  the  settlement  of  Boston,  the  civil  authorities 
began  to  consider  the  question  of  erecting  defenses  in  the  harbor, 
in  addition  to  the  fort  on  Fort  Hill.  July  29,  1634,  Governor 
Dudley  and  his  Council  repaired  to  Castle  Island,  with  "divers 
Ministers  and  others,"  and  there  agreed  upon  erecting  two  plat- 
forms and  one  small  fortification,  and  the  Deputy-Governor,  Mr. 
Ludlow,  was  appointed  to  oversee  the  work.  This  was  the  first 
fortification  erected  on  the  island,  but  in  after  years  it  was  allowed 
to  go  to  decay,  and  was  abandoned. 

In  the  year  1643,  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  experienced  great 
alarm  and  mortification  in  having  their  weakness  exposed  to  the 
observation  of  a  foreign  power.  This  was  caused  by  the  unex- 
pected arrival  of  a  French  armed  ship,  under  La  Tour.  He,  how- 
ever, came  on  a  friendly  mission,  he  and  his  company  being  French 
Protestants.  It  was  observed  at  the  time  that,  had  this  been  a 
hostile  ship,  it  might  have  carried  off  the  guns  of  the  fort  and  two 
ships  then  in  the  harbor,  and  even  sacked  the  town.  After  the 
departure  of  La  Tour,  a  special  court  was  called  by  the  Governor 
to  act  upon  the  important  subject  of  putting  the  fort  in  repair. 
Several  of  the  towns  had  determined  that  if  the  General  Court 
would  not  repair  the  fort  they  would  do  it  at  their  own  expense. 
However,  after  "  much  debate,"  it  was  decided  to  grant  a  hundred 
pounds  for  its  maintenance  when  it  should  be  in  defence  and  a  gar- 
rison of  twenty  men  residing  in  it.  The  work  of  rebuilding  the 
Castle  was  earnestly  pressed,  and  Mr.  Richard  Davenport  was  ap- 
pointed to  take  command  of  the  fort,  which  position  he  retained 
till  July  16,  1 664.  when  he  was  struck  dead  at  the  Castle  by  light- 
ning. He  was  succeeded  by  Capt  Roger  Clap,  who  remained  in 
command  of  the  Castle  for  twenty-one  years.  March  21,  1674, 
the  Castle,  being  chiefly  built  of  wood,  was  accidently  consumed 
by  fire.  A  new  fort  was  immediately  built.  In  1689,  the  fort 
was  taken  from  Governor  Andros,  without  firing  a  gun.  A  new 
fort  was  built,  in  1701,  of  brick,  in  a  very  substantial  manner, 
and  called  Castle  William,  in  honor  of  William  the  Third.  When 
the  British  evacuated  Boston,  they  destroyed  Castle  William. 
After  the  provincial  forces  took  possession,  they  repaired  it  and, 
in  1797,  its  name  was  changed  to  Fort  Independence. 


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ANTIQUE   VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  189 

SOUTH  BATTERY. 

As  early  as  1632,  a  fort  was  begun  on  the  eminence  then  called 
Cornhill,  but  soon  changed  to  the  Fort-Field,  and  finally  to  Fort 
Hill.  The  Bostonians  were  aided  by  their  brethren  in  Charles- 
town,  Roxbury  and  Dorchester ;  two  years  after,  it  was  declared  in 
a  state  of  defence.  This  battery  and  fort  acquired  a  celebrity  as 
the  theatre  of  the  seizure  and  deposition  of  Governor  Andros,  by 
the  train  bands,  who  approached  the  hill  by  the  rear  and  then 
divided,  a  part  going  around  by  the  water  to  the  battery.  A  few 
soldiers  in  the  works  retreated  up  the  hill  to  the  main  body,  and 
the  towsmen  turned  the  guns  upon  them.  Andros  was  forced  to 
yield  himself  a  prisoner.  The  keys  of  the  castle  were  next  ex- 
torted from  him,  and  the  bloodless  revolution  was  ended. 

The  Sconce  or  water-battery,  which  is  shown  in  the  foreground 
of  our  illustration,  was  probably  not  built  until  sometime  after  the 
main  work,  perhaps  at  the  time  of  the  Dutch  war.  It  was  con- 
structed of  whole  timber,  with  earth  and  stone  between,  and  was 
considered  very  strong.  In  time  of  peace  it  was  in  charge  of  a 
gunner  only,  but  had  its  company  assigned  to  it  in  case  of  danger. 
In  1705,  it  was  commanded  by  Captain  Timothy  Clark,  who  was 
ordered  to  furnish  an  account  of  the  ordinance,  ammunition,  etc., 
' '  meete  to  bee  offered  hys  Grace  the  Duke  of  Marlborough  Great 
Master  of  her  Majestye's  Ordinance." 

In  1743,  the  battery  mouuted  thirty-five  guns;  at  this  time  no 
work  appears  on  the  summit  of  the  hill.  In  1774,  Jeremiah  Green 
was  Captain,  with  the  rank  of  Major.  The  British  continued  to 
hold  it  with  a  garrison,  and  had  a  laboratory  there.  Colonel 
Pomeroy's  regiment,  the  64th,  occupied  the  Hill  in  November  1768. 
The  Welsh  Fusileers,  who  had  won  a  splendid  name  for  valor  at 
Minden,  were  posted  there  in  1774,  and  in  1775,  the  works  con- 
tained four  hundred  men.  After  the  evacuation,  the  works  were 
found  greatly  damaged,  but  were  occupied  and  strengthened  by 
the  Americans.  Du  Portail,  chief  engineer  of  the  American  army, 
came  to  Boston  in  October,  1778,  to  make  a  survey  of  the  works, 
when  this,  with  others,  was  strengthened  and  put  in  the  best  pos- 
ture of  defence.  Subsequently,  in  1779,  when  Washington  was 
fovtifjing  the  passes  of  the  Hudson  on  a  great  scale,  the  heavy 
guns  were  removed  from  all  the  works  here  and  sent  forward  to 
the  army  against  which  Clinton  was  then  advancing. 


190  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

NORTH  BATTERY. 

The  first  mention  of  what  was  afterwards  known  as  the  North 
Battery  occurs  in  the  records  of  January,  1644,  when  a  work  at 
Merry's  Point  was  agreed  upon.  There  was,  however,  no  definite 
action  taken  until  1664,  when  there  appeared  propositions  about  a 
fortification  at  the  North  End  "att  Walter  Merry's  Point."  John- 
son's ' '  Wonder- Working  Providence "  speaks  of  the  forts  on 
Copp's  and  Fort  Hill  as  "  the  one  well  fortified  on  the  superficies 
thereof  with  store  of  great  artillery  well  mounted.  The  other 
hath  a  very  strong  battery  built  of  whole  timber  and  filled  with 
earth,"  the  latter  being  the  North  Battery.  In  1706,  a  project  was 
brought  before  the  town  to  extend  the  North  Battery  one  hundred 
and  twenty  feet,  with  a  breadth  of  forty  feet,  and  £1000  were 
voted  for  the  improvement  and  security  of  the  work.  John  Steele 
had  command  in  1750. 

The  52nd,  43rd  and  47th  British  regiments,  with  companies  of 
grenadiers  and  light  infantry,  embarked  from  the  North  Battery  on 
the  day  of  Bunker  Hill,  as  did  also  the  1st  Battalion  of  Marines, 
led  by  Major  Pitcairn,  of  Lexington  fame,  who  fell  a  victim  to  the 
murderous  fire  from  the  fatal  redoubt  while  gallantly  urging  on  his 
men  to  the  attack. 

"  Hark,  from  the  town  a  trumpet !     The  barges  from  the  wharf 
Are  crowded  with  the  Hying  freight,  and  now  they're  pushing  off. 
With  clash  and  glitter,  trump  and  drum,  in  all  its  bright  array, 
Behold  the  splendid  sacrifice  move  slowly  o'er  the  bay  I  " 

When  Lord  Howe  evacuated  Boston,  the  North  Battery  was 
armed  with  seven  twelve  pounders,  two  nine  pounders  and  four 
six  pounders,  all  rendered  unserviceable.  From  its  position,  the 
work  commanded  the  entrance  to  Charles  River,  as  well  as  the 
Town  Cove,  and  was  deemed  of  the  highest  military  importance 
in  those  days  of  short-range  artillery.  The  town  sold  the  North 
Battery  to  Jeffrey  and  Russell.  It  became  Jeffrey's  wharf  be- 
tween 1789  and  1796,  and  is  now  Battery  wharf,  in  memory  of  its 
ancient  purposes. 

Our  views  of  the  North  and  South  Batteries  formed  the  head- 
ings for  certificates  of  membership  of  an  enlisted  "  Montross,"  or 
under  gunner.  The  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  possesses 
the  original  copperplate  of  the  North  Battery,  engraved  by  Paul 
Revere.  The  South  Battery  engraving  was  reproduced  from  the 
only  known  copy,  belonging  to  the  Essex  Institute  of  Salem. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  195 

BOSTONIANS    PAYING    THE    EXCISEMAN. 

A  short  time  previous  to  the  Revolution,  many  cartoons  were 
published  in  Boston  and  London  illustrative  of  the  difficulties  then 
existing  between  the  people  and  the  government.  We  herewith 
present  two  characteristic  engravings  of  that  period.  The  one 
entitled  "The  Bostonians  Paying  the  Exciseman,  or  Tarring  and 
Feathering,"  is  one  of  a  set  of  cartoons  published  in  London  in 
1774,  and  is  here  faithfully  reproduced  by  the  Photo-Electrotype 
process.  The  taxing  of  America  was  first  moved  in  Parliament  in 
March,  1764.  The  result  was  the  Stamp  Act,  imposing  a  tax  on 
all  notes,  bonds,  &c.  The  reception  of  this  news  in  Boston  was 
received  with  universal  indignation,  which  was  boldly  expressed. 
The  stamp  agents  were  compelled  to  resign,  and  the  act  wholly 
disregarded.  This  is  represented  in  the  Cartoon  by  the  manner 
in  which  the  stamp  act  is  posted  on  the  Liberty  Tree,  where  the 
first  resistance  to  the  obnoxious  law  took  place  which  led  to  its 
repeal.  These  disturbances  were  still  fresh  in  the  minds  of  the 
people  when  the  East  India  Company  sent  several  vessels  to 
Boston  loaded  with  tea.  The  people  declared  they  would  not  pay 
any  duty  on  it,  and  on  the  arrival  of  the  ships  a  violent  meeting 
took  place  in  Faneuil  Hall  and  the  Old  South  Meeting-House, 
whence  a  party  of  thirty  men,  disguised  as  Indians,  went  to  Grif- 
fin's Wharf  and  in  less  than  two  hours  more  than  five  hundred 
chests  of  tea  were  thrown  into  the  harbor.  This  scene  is  repre- 
sented in  the  engraving.  It  is  not  probable  that  any  exciseman  was 
tarred  and  feathered  ;  the  object  of  the  Cartoon  was  to  show  how 
the  authority  of  the  government  was  wholly  disregarded  in  Boston. 

LANDING  A  BISHOP. 

The  Episcopal  form  of  worship  was  always  disagreeable  to  the 
Congregationalists,  but  it  was  the  power  that  endeavoured  to  im- 
pose it,  on  which  their  eyes  were  steadily  fixed.  If  Parliament 
could  create  dioceses  and  appoint  bishops,  it  could  introduce  tithes 
and  crush  heresy.  The  ministry  entertained  the  design  of  send- 
ing over  a  bishop  to  the  colonies,  and  controversy  for  years  ran 
high  on  this  subject.  So  resolute,  however,  was  the  opposition  to 
this  project  that  it  was  abandoned.  This  controversy,  John 
Adams  says,  contributed  as  much  as  any  other  cause  to  arouse  at- 
tention to  the  claims  of  Parliament.  The  spirit  of  the  times  is  well 
represented  in  a  cartoon  in  the  Political  Register  of  1709,  which 
we  have  reproduced. 


196  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

REVERE   VIEW   OF   BOSTON. 

The  history  of  Boston  is  closely  interwoven  with  that  of  the 
American  Revolution.  The  progress  of  the  schemes  which  finally 
resulted  in  the  acts  of  Parliament  for  raising  a  revenue  in  the 
Colonies  by  imposts,  the  gradual  and  artful  plans  for  rendering 
the  governments  in  them  entirely  independent  of  the  people,  the 
Act  creating  a  Board  of  Commissioners  to  carry  into  effect  the  new 
revenue  laws,  and  the  Act  for  quartering  troops  among  the  people, 
for  the  evident  purpose  of  over-awing  them  into  submission,  are 
matters  that  enter  deeply  into  the  history  of  Boston,  and  it  was 
truly  said  at  the  time  ' '  If  America  is  saved  from  its  impending 
danger,  NeW  England  will  be  its  acknowledged  guardian."  The 
Board  of  Commissioners  here  reffered  to  had  its  headquarters  in 
Boston,  and  the  acts  of  those  composing  the  Board  led  to  serious 
difficulties  in  the  town  shortly  after.  The  Stamp  Act  troubles  had 
just  ceased  and  the  people  were  jubilant  over  the  repeal  of  the 
Act,  when  one  irritating  circumstance  after  another  transpired  at 
brief  intervals  which  showed  the  people  that  one  encroachment  was 
relinquished  only  to  undertake  another. 

The  Frigate  Eomney,  of  fifty  guns,  arrived  from  Halifax ;  men 
were  pressed  from  several  vessels  into  the  ship's  service,  which 
greatly  incensed  the  class  of  people  among  whom  the  impressments 
were  made,  and  the  merchants  believed  the  Eomney  had  been  sent 
for  by  the  Commissioners  to  enforce  the  revenue  laws.  Soon  after, 
a  sloop  belonging  to  John  Hancock,  bearing  the  unfortunate  name 
of  "Liberty,"  arrived,  loaded  with  wine  from  Madeira.  As  she 
laid  at  Hancock's  wharf,  a  party  of  men  went  aboard  of  her,  confined 
the  officer  in  charge  below,  and  then  took  the  wine  out  of  her, 
without  entei'ing  it  at  the  Custom  House.  Mr.  Joseph  Harrison,  the 
Collector,  and  Benjamin  Hallowell,  the  Comptroller,  decided  to 
seize  the  vessel,  and  that  it  would  be  best  to  move  her  under  the 
guns  of  the  Romney.  Signals  were  therefore  made  for  the  fri- 
gate's boats  to  come  to  the  wharf.  A  considerable  number  of 
people  had  by  this  time  been  attracted  to  the  place,  and  by  the 
tims  the  boats  arrived  it  was  with  much  difficulty  and  great  peril 
that  the  moorings  were  cut  and  the  sloop  carried  off,  for  the  gather- 
ing upon  the  wharf  had  now  increased  to  a  mob,  many  of  whom, 
supposing  that  it  was  another  impressment  affair,  became  furious  ; 
swore  vengeance  and  destruction  to  the  oppressors,  as  all  connected 


o 


LANDING    A    BISHOP. 


Bostonians  Paying  the  Exciseman. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  201 

with  the  government  were  called.  When  it  became  known  that  a 
vessel  of  a  popular  citizen  had  been  seized,  the  fury  of  the  mob 
knew  no  bounds.  In  this  state  of  exasperation,  they  fell  upon  the 
officers,  several  of  whom  barely  escaped  with  their  lives.  Mr. 
Harrison  was  severely  injured  by  being  struck  on  the  breast  with 
a  stone  ;  his  son  was  thrown  down  and  dragged  by  the  hair  of  his 
head  ;  and  they  otherwise  barbarously  treated  Messrs.  Hallowell 
and  Irving.  Inspectors  were  stoned  and  beaten  with  clubs.  The 
mob  next  went  to  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Williams,  the  Inspector 
General,  broke  his  windows,  and  also  those  of  the  Comptroller, 
Mr.  Hallowell.  They  then  took  the  Collector's  boat,  dragged  it  to 
the  Common,  and  there  burnt  every  fragment  of  it.  The  Com- 
missioners, feeling  no  security  in  their  own  houses,  fled  during 
the  riot  to  those  of  their  friends,  and,  finding  these  very  insecure 
retreats,  took  refuge  on  the  Eomney  and  were  from  there  conveyed 
in  boats  to  the  Castle,  were  they  remained  a  long  time.  Governor 
Bernard  went  to  his  country  seat  at  Jamaica  Plains.  He  consid- 
ered himself  driven  to  the  last  extremity,  and  plainly  saw  that  a 
crisis  had  arrived,  and  his  only  hope  was  from  a  military  power. 
The  people  were  accused  of  being  incendiaries,  breakers  of  the  laws, 
and  of  maltreating  the  king's  officers.  That  there  was  to  be  a  gen- 
eral resistance  of  the  people,  he  was  well  satisfied.  This  he  wrote 
to  Earl  Hillsborough,  his  Majesty's  Secretary  of  State  for  America. 
"When  the  Ministry  became  advised  of  this,  they  immediatly 
ordered  two  regiments  to  sail  from  Ireland  to  Boston.  General 
Gage  at  New  York  received  orders  to  remove  two  regiments  from 
Halifax  to  Boston.  Admiral  Hood  at  Halifax  was  also  ordered  to 
hold  himself  in  readiness  with  his  fleet.  The  people  of  Boston  be- 
came suspicious  that  an  armed  fleet  was  soon  to  be  expected,  and 
that  preparations  had  been  made  by  the  government  to  bring  troops 
into  the  town.  It  was  expected  that  a  collision  would  take 
place,  and  a  desperate  attempt  would  be  made  against  the  landing 
of  the  troops,  for  at  the  town  meeting,  Sept.  15,  1768,  a  request 
was  made  that  the  inhabitants  should  ' '  provide  themselves  with 
firearms,  that  they  may  be  prepared  in  case  of  sudden  danger." 
Great  consternation  now  prevailed  in  the  town ;  the  officers  thought 
the  people  intended  to  surprise  the  Castle,  and  that  a  Revolution 
was  inevitable.  On  Sept.  28,  the  expected  troops  arrived  at  Nan- 
tasket.  They  came  in  six  ships  of  war,  and  consisted  of  the  14th 
and  29th  regiments.     Soon  after  arrived  the  59th  and  a  company 


H)i  ANT1 Q  UE  VIE  WS  OF  B  OSTON. 

of  artillery.  Sept.  30,  the  vessels  of  war,  now  amounting  to 
about  twelve,  sailed  up  the  harbor,  and  were  ranged  in  a  formidable 
manner  about  the  northeast  part  of  the  town  and  came  to  anchor. 
The  next  day,  in  the  forenoon,  the  men  embarked  in  the  boats  of 
the  squadron,  and  at  twelve  o'clock  were  landed  at  Long  Wharf; 
thence  they  marched  up  King  Street  to  the  common  ;  here  they  were 
joined  by  the  artillery  company  about  three  o'clock.  With  these 
were  two  pieces  of  cannon.  Here  the  29th  regiment  encamped. 
The  14th,  in  the  evening,  marched  to  Faneuil  Hall,  and  a  portion 
were  quartered  in  the  City  Hall  (Old  State  House)  ;  then  the 
main  guard  was  posted  opposite  the  House,  and  two  cannon  were 
drawn  up,  unlimbered  and  levelled  against  it.  The  59th  and  the 
artillery  company  were  quartered  in  stores  on  Griffin's  wharf. 
Thus  the  town  was  converted  into  a  garrison.  The  inhabitants 
could  not  go  about  their  ordinary  occupations  without  being  chal- 
lenged at  every  corner  by  sentinels.  Nothing  transpired  at  the 
landing  of  the  troops  bearing  a  show  of  opposition  by  the  people. 
All  ideas  of  resistance  were  stifled,  notwithstanding  it  was  reported 
in  England  the  previous  August  that  10,000  armed  men  stood 
ready  in  Boston  to  oppose  the  landing  of  the  king's  troops.  Such 
a  display  of  troops  in  brilliant  uniforms  attracted  great  attention 
and  in  many  cases  indignant  admiration. 

The  accompanying  engraving,  representing  the  landing  of  the 
troops,  is  an  exact  reproduction  of  Paul  Revere's  well  known  en- 
graving, reduced  slightly  in  size. 

"PERSPECTIVE    VIEW    OF   BOSTON    HARBOR." 

This  engraving  is  considered  as  a  companion  view  to  the  Revere 
engraving,  illustrating  the  same  subject,  but  giving  an  opposite 
view,  that  of  the  harbor  and  islands.  It  is  of  great  value,  as  it  shows 
the  general  appearance  of  the  islands  at  that  period.  It  is  repro- 
duced  from  a  water  color  drawing  in  the  possession  of  the  New 
England  Historic  Genealogical  Society.  There  is  also  another 
similar  drawing  in  the  Essex  Institute  of  Salem.  This  is  believed 
to  be  the  first  engraving  made  of  it. 


vOi •  owc^r 


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and  &■«,,,  o/.-lr/;//,,,,*,,//,    ■tin>y,/i,--f.Jo/6a,n*ion.l<i*uiecLon  iAc&orto   #JU*r-/;   f/,*rr  J?ormed>  a,  n  d  ■ /Ha^r/i*  d    tuith    i£/8/*>nt~/  a^radr.  U>rvi*n*  6  e  ait  n  pV  ,/ba 


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«      II A.K  COCKS    iVhO'Tf 

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Perspective  View  of  Boston  Harbor  and  the  British  Fleet,  1768. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  207 

STATE  STREET  MASSACRE. 

From  the  time  of  the  occupation  of  Boston  by  British  troops, 
in  1768 — admitted  by  Governor  Bernard — frequent  collisions 
between  the  people  and  the  soldiery  became  quite  common.  The 
influence  of  these  brutal  affrays  extended  far  and  wide,  and  that 
the  soldiers  committed  frequent  outrages  is  no  doubt  true,  but  they 
were  greatly  exaggerated  ;  and,  probably,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten, 
the  soldiers  were  the  abused  party.  It  was  their  misfortune  to  oc- 
cupy an  uncomfortable  position,  and  those  were  to  blame  that  sent 
them,  and  not  the  poor  soldiers.  The  tragedy  represented  by  our 
engraving  took  place  March  5th,  1770.  It  commenced  soon  after 
nine  o'clock  on  a  bright  moonlight  evening.  Two  young  men, 
named  Archibald  and  Merchant,  came  down  Cornhill  together  and 
attempted  to  pass  through  Boylston's  alley,  in  which  a  sentinel  was 
posted,  without  answering  his  challenge.  There  was  in  company 
with  the  sentinel  "  a  mean-lookinsr  Irishman,"  who  had  in  his  hand 
a  large  cudgel.  A  scuffle  ensued,  in  which  Archibald  was  struck 
on  the  arm  and  Merchant  had  his  clothes  pierced  and  his  skin 
grazed,  and  in  turn  he  struck  the  soldier  with  a  stick  he  had  with 
him.  The  Irishman  returned  to  the  barracks  to  alarm  the  soldiers, 
and  immediately  returned  with  two  of  them  ;  by  this  time  the  noise 
had  brought  several  people  to  the  place,  and  one  of  them  knocked 
the  soldier  down.  The  soldiers  retreated  to  the  barracks,  followed 
by  their  assailants.  Immediately  a  dozen  of  the  soldiers  came  out 
armed,  and  the  people  dispersed,  followed  by  the  soldiers  as  far  as 
Dock  Square,  where  some  blows  were  given  and  received.  The 
officers,  however,  succeeded  in  causing  the  soldiers  to  return  to 
their  barracks  in  Brattle  street,  where  they  were  followed  and  be- 
siged  by  the  mob.  Then  some  among  the  crowd  cried  out  '  'Now 
for  the  Main  Guard  !  Damn  the  dogs  !  Let  us  go  and  kill  the 
damn'd  scoundrel  of  a  sentry !"  The  sentinel  of  the  Custom 
House,  (which  stood  on  the  corner  of  Royal  Exchange  Lane  and 
King  street,  and  which  can  be  seen  in  the  engraving,)  was  the  ob- 
ject aimed  at  by  a  part  of  the  mob,*  who  pressed  upon  him  crying 
out  "  kill  him,  knock  him  down  !  "  with  other  similar  expressions. 
The  poor  sentinel  retreated  up  the  steps  of  the  Custom  House, 

*  John  Adams,  in  his  "  Plea  for  the  Defense  of  the  Soldiers,"  says :  "  We  have  been  entertained  with  a 
great  variety  of  phrases  to  avoid  calling  this  sort  of  people  a  mob.  Some  call  them  shavers,  some  call  them 
geniuses.  The  plain  English  is,  they  were,  most  probably,  a  motley  rabble  of  saucy  boys,  Negroes  and 
mulattoes,  Irish  leagues  and  outlandish  jack-tars;  and  why  we  should  scruple  to  call  such  a  set  of  people  a 
mob  I  can't  conceive,  unless  the  name  is  too  resuectable  for  them." 


208  ANTIQUE   VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

beset  by  a  shower  of  missels.  He  loaded  his  gun,  which  the  mob 
observing,  hallooed  ' '  Fire  and  be  dammed  ! "  He  then  tried  to 
gain  admittance  into  the  house,  failing  which  he  called  upon  the 
Main  Guard  which  was  stationed  at  the  Town  House,  within  hear- 
ing. The  Main  Guard  on  that  day  was  commanded  by  Captain 
Thomas  Preston,  who,  learning  of  the  trouble,  said  "I  will  go 
there  myself  to  see  they  do  no  mischief."  The  bells  were  set  ring- 
ing, which  many  supposed  was  for  a  fire  in  King  street.  Some- 
body told  Capt.  Preston  that  it  was  a  plan  of  the  people  to  give 
notice  of  an  intended  massacre  of  the  soldiers,  and  that  a  tar-barrel 
was  to  be  fired  on  Beacon  Hill  to  bring  in  the  people  from  the 
country.  These  rumors  must  have  given  the  officers  great  alarm. 
Meanwhile  the  soldiers  were  pressed  upon  and  insulted  by  the 
mob,  led  by  a  mulatto  named  Crispus  Attucks  and  a  number  of 
sailors,  to  such  an  extent  that  the  only  way  they  could  keep  upon 
their  feet  was  by  presenting  charged  bayonets  and  forming  a  half- 
circle  in  front  of  the  Custom  House.  The  soldiers  were  unable  to 
keep  off  the  crowd,  even  with  fixed  bayonets,  having  their  guns 
knocked  this  way  and  that  with  clubs.  Capt.  Preston,  at  the 
utmost  peril,  stood  for  a  time  between  his  men  and  the  mob,  using 
every  endeavour  to  prevent  further  outrage ;  but  all  to  no  purpose, 
while  some  called  out,  "  Come  on,  you  bloody  backs,  you  lobster 
scoundrels  !  Fire  if  you  dare  !  Fire  and  be  dammed  !  We  know 
you  dare  not."  *  Immediately  after,  a  soldier  received  a  severe 
blow  from  a  club,  upon  which  he  stepped  a  little  on  one  side, 
leveled  his  piece  and  fired.  Captain  Preston  remonstrated  with 
him  for  firing,  and  while  he  was  speaking  he  came  near  being 
knocked  down  by  a  blow  from  a  club  aimed  at  his  head. 

The  noise  and  confusion  was  now  great,  some  calling  out  "  Fire, 
fire  if  you  dare  !  Damn  you,  why  don't  you  fire  !  "  with  horrid 
oaths  and  imprecations.  No  one  could  tell  whether  Capt.  Preston 
or  anybody  else  ordered  the  men  to  fire,  but  fire  they  did,  some 
seven  or  eight  of  them.  The  mob,  seeing  that  the  soldiers  were 
in  earnest,  began  to  leave  the  ground,  fearing  the  firing  might  be 
continued.  Tbe  time  occupied  thus  far,  from  the  time  the  attack 
began  on  the  sentinel  in  King  street,  had  not  exceeded  a  half  hour. 
The  result  of  the  firing  was  that  three  lay  dead  on  the  ground, 

*  It  was  understood  by  the  people  that  no  soldier  was  allowed  to  fire  his  piece  under  any  circumstance, 
unless  ordered  to  do  so  by  the  Civil  Magistrate.  Gov.  Hutchinson,  on  arriving  on  the  ground,  reproached 
Capt.  Preston  for  allowing  his  men  to  fire. 


AJSTTIQ  UE  VIE  WS  OF  B  OSTON.  2 1 1 

two  mortally  wounded  and  several  slightly.  On  the  return  of  the 
people  to  remove  the  dead,  the  soldiers,  supposing  they  were  com- 
ing to  renew  the  attack,  leveled  their  guns  to  fire  upon  them,  but 
the  Captain  struck  them  up  with  his  hands  and  thus  prevented 
further  bloodshed.  A  citizen  informed  the  Captain  that  there  were 
5000  people  coming  armed  to  take  his  life  and  the  lives  of  his  men. 
He  therefore  disposed  his  men  into  street  firing  parties.  The  peo- 
ple had  set  up  the  cry  :  "To  arms  !  to  arms  !  Turn  out  with  your 
guns,  every  man  ! "  and  the  drums  were  beating  to  arms  in  every 
quarter.  As  the  officers  of  the  29th  were  repairing  to  their  regi- 
ment, some  were  knocked  down  by  the  mob  and  very  much  in- 
jured, and  some  had  their  swords  taken  from  them.  Under  the 
influence  of  a  number  of  distinguished  citizens,  and  the  Lieut. 
Governor  and  Col.  Carr,  the  people  were  persuaded  to  go  to  their 
homes,  and  thus  ended  the  memorable  5th  of  March,  1770. 

In  the  morning,  a  large  number  of  the  inhabitants  held  a  town 
meeting  at  Faneuil  Hall.  The  crowd  was  immense,  and  an  adjourn- 
ment to  the  Old  South  was  necessary.  A  vote  was  passed,  that,  as 
it  was  impossible  for  the  soldiers  and  people  to  live  together  in  the 
town,  that  a  committee  should  be  appointed  to  request  their  imme- 
diate removal.  This  had  the  desired  effect,  and  Col.  Dalrymple 
pledged  his  honor  that  the  troops  should  be  removed  immediately, 
and  they  were  removed  to  the  Castle,  agreeably  to  promise. 

Captain  Preston  and  the  soldiers  engaged  in  this  affray  were 
arrested  and  tried  for  murder.  The  counsel  for  the  government 
were  Robert  Treat  Paine  and  Samuel  Quincy,  and  for  the  prisoners 
John  Adams,  Josiah  Quincy  and  Sampson  Salter  Blowers.  Adams' 
plea  in  their  defence  was  very  eloquent.  Two  were  found  guilty 
of  manslaughter  and  were  branded  on  the  hand  with  a  hot  iron  in 
open  court,  and  then  discharged.     All  the  others  were  acquitted. 

In  1887,  at  the  instigation  of  Boyle  O'Reilley  and  the 
negroes  of  Boston,  the  Legislature  passed  a  bill  authorizing  the 
expenditure  of  !$10,000  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  monument  to 
the  memory  of  the  "  victims  of  the  Boston  Massacre."     The  monu- 


2 1 2  AJSTTIQ  UE   VIE  W8  OF  B OSTOJSf. 

ment  was  erected  on  Boston  Common,  notwithstanding  the  fact 
that  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  and  the  New  England 
Historic  Genealogical  Society  voted  unanimously  against  it.  "  That 
it  was  a  waste  of  public  treasure,  that  the  affray  was  occasioned  by 
the  brutal  and  revengeful  attack  of  reckless  roughs  upon  tire 
soldiers  while  on  duty  who  had  not  the  civilian's  privilege  of  re- 
treating, but  were  obliged  to  contend  against  great  odds,  and 
they  used  their  arms  only  in  the  last  extremity,  that  the  killed 
were  rioters  and  not  patriots,  that  a  jury  of  Boston  citizens  had 
acquitted  the  soldiers."  A  joint  committee,  composed  of  members 
of  both  societies,  presented  the  resolution  to  Governor  Ames  and 
requested  him  to  veto  the  bill.  He  admitted  that  "the  monument 
ought  not  to  be  erected,  but  if  he  vetoed  the  bill  it  would  cost  the 
Republican  party  the  colored  vote." 

The  absurdity  of  the  Irish  and  negroes  requesting  that  this 
monument  be  erected  because  one  each  of  their  race  was  killed  in 
the  affray  can  be  better  understood  when  the  fact  is  known  that 
one  of  the  charges  made  against  these  very  soldiers  was  that  "  Cap- 
tain Wilson,  of  the  Fifty-Ninth,  had  excited  the  negroes  to  leave 
their  masters  and  to  repair  to  the  army  for  protection." 

Dr.  Jeffries,  who  attended  Patrick  Carr,  made  a  sworn  deposition 
that  Carr  made  the  following  dying  statement  to  him  concerning 
his  participation  in  the  riot :  "  He  said  he  was  a  fool  to  have  gone 
there,  that  he  might  have  known  better ;  that  he  had  seen  soldiers 
often  fire  on  mobs  in  Ireland,  but  he  had  never  seen  them  bear  half 
so  much  before  they  fired  in  his  life.  He  said  repeatedly,  before 
he  died,  that  he  did  not  blame  the  man  whoever  he  was  that  shot 
him,  that  he  forgave  him  because  he  was  satisfied  he  had  no  malice, 
but  fired  to  defend  himself." 

When  the  monument  was  uncovered  it  presented  such  an  inde- 
cent appearance  that  the  City  Council  immediately  voted  #250  for  a 
new  capstone.  It  now  represents  a  historic  lie,  and  is  a  sad  com- 
mentary on  the  intelligence  of  the  citizens  of  Boston. 

Our  engraving  of  the  "  massacre  "  was  reproduced  from  a  print 
taken  from  a  copper-plate  engraved  by  Paul  Revere.  The  plate 
is  still  in  existence,  and  can  be  seen  at  the  State  House.  The 
description  of  the  massacre  is  compiled  from  Drake's  History  of 
Boston. 


AtfTIQ  UE  VIE  WS  OF  B  OSTON.  2 1 3 

LIBERTY    TREE. 

In  1774  this  tree,  with  another,  stood  in  the  enclosure  of  an 
old-fashioned  dwelling  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Essex  and  Wash- 
ington Streets.  In  the  Washington  Street  side  of  the  wall  of 
the  building,  now  occupying  its  site,  will  be  found  a  handsome 
free  stone  bas-relief,  representing  a  tree  with  wide-spreading 
branches,  this  is  placed  directly  over  the  spot  where  stood  the 
famed  Liberty  Tree.     An  inscription  says  that  it  commemorates  : 

LIBERTY  1765. 
LAW  AND  ORDER. 
SONS  OF  LIBERTY:  1776. 
INDEPENDENCE  OF  THEIR  COUNTRY  1776. 

The  open  space  at  the  junction  of  the  four  corners  of  Washing- 
ton, Essex,  and  Boylston  Streets  was  once  known  as  Hanover 
Square,  from  the  royal  house  of  Hanover,  and  sometimes  as  the 
Elm  neighborhood,  from  the  magnificent  elms  with  which  it  was 
environed.  It  was  one  of  the  finest  of  these  elms  that  obtained 
the  name  of  Liberty  Tree,  from  its  being  used  on  the  first  occa- 
sion of  resistance  to  the  obnoxious  Stamp  Act.  In  1766  when 
the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act  took  place,  a  large  copper  plate  was 
fastened  to  the  tree  inscribed  in  golden  characters : — 

"  Tins  tree  ivas  planted  in  the  year   1646,   and  pruned 
by  order  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  Feb.  14th,  1766." 

In  1775,  the  tree,  having  become  offensive  to  the  tories  and 
their  British  allies,  was  cut  down  by  a  party  led  by  one  Job  Wil- 
liams. One  of  their  number  being  accidently  killed  in  attempt- 
ing to  remove  a  limb.  Some  idea  of  the  size  of  the  tree  may  be 
formed  from  the  fact  that  it  made  fourteen  cords  of  wood.  The 
ground  about  the  tree  was  popularly  known  as  Liberty  Hall.  In 
August,  1767,  a  flagstaff  was  erected,  which  went  through  and 
above  its  highest  branches.  A  flag  hoisted  on  this  was  a  signal 
for  the  assembling  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty  for  action.  One  Cap- 
tain Mackintosh,  supposed  to  have  been  a  blacksmith  at  the  South 
End,  was  the  first  Captain-general  of  Liberty  Tree. 


&4 

E-" 

!* 

K 
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h— i 


OLD   PROVINCE   HOUSE. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  217 

PAUL   REVERE. 

Paul  Revere  is  a  name  of  which  every  Bostonian  is  justly  proud. 
He  was  a  native  of  Boston,  but  descended  from  the  sturdy  Hugue- 
nots, Ri  voire  being  the  ancient  family  name.  He  was  a  goldsmith 
by  trade,  but  took  up  the  art  of  engraving  on  copper,  of  which 
he  has  left  many  specimens.  He  engraved  the  plates,  made  the 
press,  and  printed  the  paper  money  for  the  Provincial  Congress. 
He  was  the  principal  engraver  in  the  colony  at  the  time  of  the 
Revolution,  and  a  number  of  the  illustrations  in  this  work  were 
engraved  by  him.  It  was  due  to  his  skill  as  an  engraver  that  many 
of  the  views  of  that  period  have  been  handed  down  to  posterity. 

When  the  troubles  began  with  the  mother  country,  Paul  Revere 
was  one  of  the  first  to  advocate  a  vigorous  resistance  to  this  British 
misrule ;  and  no  patriot  stood  ready  to  risk  more,  or  dare  more  in 
the  cause  of  freedom,  than  did  he.  His  name  stands  second  on 
the  roll  of  the  famous  tea-party  of  December  16,  1773. 

In  the  fall  of  1774,  and  winter  of  1775,  he  organized,  in  con- 
nection with  about  thirty  other  mechanics,  a  committee  for  the  pur- 
pose of  watching  the  movements  of  the  British  soldiers,  and  gain- 
ing every  intelligence  of  the  movements  of  the  tories.  They  held 
their  meetings  at  the  Green  Dragon  Tavern,  and  so  thorough  were 
these  self-appointed  guardians  of  the  public  safety  in  the  search 
for  information,  that  within  a  few  hours  from  the  time  that  Gen. 
Gage  gave  the  order  to  march  on  Lexington  and  Concord,  no  less 
than  three  different  messengers  came  to  Paul  Revere  with  the  start- 
ling news,  notwithstanding  Gen.  Gage  declared  that  he  imparted 
the  knowledge  to  Earl  Percy  and  one  other  only. 

Our  engraving  of  Paul  Revere's  habitation  and  probable  birth- 
place was  copied  from  an  etching,  made  by  Darius  Cobb  of  this 
city.  The  building  is  situated  in  North  Square  and  built  in  the 
old  Dutch  style,  having  been  erected  soon  after  the  great  tire  of 
1676,  which  swept  away  this  portion  of  the  old  city.  Drake  tells 
us  that  from  this  house  Paul  Revere  gave  the  striking  exhibition  of 
transparencies  on  the  evening  of  the  anniversary  of  the  Boston 
Massacre.  The  old  pump  in  the  rear  was  never  known,  when  in 
repair,  to  refuse  the  purest  of  spring-water  to  man  or  beast ;  and 
it  continued  in  constant  use  until  the  introduction  of  Cochituate 
water.  Teams  would  come  down  from  Middle  street  (now  Han- 
over, )  and   the  horses,  by  putting  their  heads  through  an  opening 


218  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

in  the  fence,  could  quench  the  thirst  of  a  dusty  day  to  their  satis- 
faction. What  is  Lathrop  Place,  now  leading  from  Hanover  street, 
was  then  a  passage-way  leading  to  the  rear  of  this  house.  On  the 
night  of  April  18,  1775,  when  the  British  troops  were  stationed 
in  North  Square,  this  gave  the  patriot  a  clear  passage,  by  Middle 
street,  to  North  (Christ)  Church,  with  his  lantern,  which  gave 
\\ -arning  far  and  near  of  the  intended  march  on  Lexington  and 
Concord. 

At  the  request  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  he  established  the 
first  powder  mill  in  the  province,  and  the  second  in  the  colonies. 
He  went  to  Philadelphia  to  visit  the  only  mill  in  operation,  but  the 
proprietor  would  only  let  him  pass  through  his  mill ;  this,  however 
was  enough  for  a  man  of  his  ingenious  mind,  and  he  soon  estab- 
lished a  powder  mill  at  Canton. 

After  the  evacuation  he  was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel  of  a 
regiment  of  militia,  and  accompanied  the  Penobscot  expedition  of 
1779. 

In  1783,  after  the  peace,  he  established  a  cannon  and  bell  foundry 
at  the  North  End  ;  and  later,  bought  the  old  powder  mill  at  Can- 
ton, where  be  began  the  manufacture  of  rolled  copper  bolts,  spikes, 
etc.  The  copper  bolts  used  in  the  construction  of  the  "  Constitu- 
tion," "  Old  Iron  Sides,"  were  made  by  Paul  Revere.  In  1795  he 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Charitable  Mechanics  Association, 
and  served  as  its  first  president. 

The  proprietorship  of  the  works  at  Canton  still  remains  with 
the  Revere  Copper  Company,  successors  to  Paul  Revere  &  Son. 
The  president  of  the  company  is  a  grandson  of  Paul  Revere. 

No  more  striking  instance  of  the  immense  strides  of  modern 
enterprise  can  be  found  than  from  the  fact  that,  in  1812,  rolled 
copper  was  sent  from  Canton  to  Philadelphia  by  ox  teams  ;  while 
in  1870,  only  fifty-eight  years  later,  cars  were  loaded  with  copper 
ore  on  the  Pacific  coast,  and  sent  to  Canton,  and  returned  thence 
to  San  Francisco  laden  with  copper  rolled  into  sheets  and  bars. 
Revere's  remains  lie  in  the  old  Granary  Burial  Ground. 

Our  portrait  of  Paul  Revere  was  copied  from  a  painting  in  the 
possession  of  the  Charitable  Mechanic  Association. 


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PAUL    REVERE. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  221 

PROVINCE   HOUSE. 

This  ancient  abode  of  the  royal  governors  was  situated  nearly 
opposite  the  head  of  Milk  street.  The  place  is  now  shut  out  from 
view  by  a  row  of  brick  stores  standing  on  Washington  street.  It 
was  built,  as  a  private  enterprise,  by  one  of  the  most  opulent 
merchants  of  olden  times,  Peter  Sargent,  Esq.,  who  purchased 
the  land  of  Col.  Samuel  Shrimpton,  Oct.  21,  1(576,  and  completed 
the  building  in  1679.  It  was  purchased  of  his  widow  by  the  Col- 
onial Legislature,  April  12,  1716,  for  the  use  and  entertainment  of 
the  governor  of  the  Province.  The  price  paid  for  it  was  £2,300. 
When  the  Mansion  House  became  public  property  it  was  a  mag- 
nificent building.  No  pains  had  been  spared  to  make  it  not  only 
elegant,  but  also  spacious  and  convenient.  It  stood  somewhat 
back  in  its  ample  lot,  and  had  the  most  pleasant  and  agreeable 
surroundings  of  any  mansion  house  in  town.  It  was  of  brick, 
three  stories  in  height,  with  a  high  roof  and  lofty  cupola,  the 
whole  surmounted  by  an  Indian  Chief  with  a  drawn  bow  and 
arrow,  the  handiwork  of  Deacon  Shem  Drown — he  who  made  the 
grasshopper  for  Faneuil  Hall.  The  house  was  approached  over 
a  stone  pavement  and  a  high  flight  of  massive  stone  steps,  and 
through  a  magnificent  doorway,  which  might  have  rivalled  those 
of  the  palaces  of  Europe.  Two  stately  oaks  of  very  large  size 
and  magnificent  proportions  reared  their  verdant  tops  on  either 
side  of  the  gate  separating  the  grounds  from  the  highway,  and  cast 
a  grateful  shade  over  the  approach,  through  the  beautiful  grass 
lawn  in  front  of  the  mansion.  Separating  the  grounds  from  the 
street  was  an  elegant  fence  with  highly  ornamented  posts.  At 
each  end  of  this,  on  the  street,  were  small  buildings  which  served 
as  porters'  lodges. 

This  palatial  mansion  was  the  abode  of  the  following  royal  gov- 
ernors :  Shute,  Burnet,  Shirley,  Pownall,  Bernard,  Gage,  and 
last  of  all,  Sir  Wm.  Howe.  Here  was  held  the  council  between 
Gen.  Gage  and  Earl  Percy,  relative  to  the  expedition  to  Lexing- 
ton, and  which  ended  so  disastrously.  On  the  morning  of  June 
17,  1775,  another  council  of  war  was  held  here  by  Gen.  Gage  and 
his  officers,  at  which  was  present  Generals  Howe,  Clinton,  Bur- 
goyne  and  Grant.  Grant  and  Clinton  proposed  to  land  the  troops 
at  Charlestown  Neck,  under  protection  of  the  ships,  and  take 
the  Americans  in  reverse.     This  plan,  which  would  have  resulted 


222  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

probably  in  the  capture  of  the  entire  provincial  force,  was  disap- 
proved by  Gage,  who  feared  to  place  his  men,  in  case  of  disaster, 
between  the  intrenched  Americans  and  reinforcements  from  Cam- 
bridge. It  was  an  anxious  consultation,  and  resulted  in  the  battle 
of  Bunker  Hill. 

After  the  evacuation  of  Boston,  the  Province  House  property 
was  confiscated  and  became  a  "  Government  House."  The  east- 
ern half  was  occupied  by  the  Governor  and  Council,  Secretary  of 
State,  and  Eeceiver-General.  The  other  half  was  the  dwelling  of 
the  Treasurer.  In  1811,  the  State  gave  the  property  to  the  Mass. 
General  Hospital,  who  leased  it  to  David  Greenough  for  ninety- 
nine  years.  He  erected  the  stores  now  in  front  of  it,  and  con- 
verted the  building  to  the  uses  of  trade.  It  became  a  tavern,  a 
hall  of  negro-minstrelsy,  and  was  finally  destroyed  by  fire,  Octo- 
ber, 1864,  leaving  only  the  walls  standing,  which  is  all  that  now 
remains  of  the  Old  Province  House.  Our  engraving  of  it  was 
made  from  sketches  taken  a  short  time  before  it  was  leased  and 
altered  over.  The  royal  arms  and  the  Indian  vane  are  on  exhibi- 
tion in  the  Old  State  House. 

PANORAMIC   VIEW   FROM   BEACON    HILL. 

These  four  views  are  made  from  four  water-color  views  in  the 
possession  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  who  obtained 
them  from  Mr.  J.  Carson  Brevoort,  of  Brooklyn ;  he  purchased 
them  of  Charles  Welford  about  1858.  It  was  the  custom  to  send 
from  the  foreign  and  plantation  offices  such  drawings  as  might  be 
of  interest  to  the  map  makers,  and  it  is  supposed  that  these 
drawings  found  their  way  there  among  such  matter.  Faden  was 
the  King's  engraver.  At  a  sale  of  his  effects  about  sixty  years 
ago  many  such  maps  and  drawings  came  to  light.  The  views 
contained  this  inscription:  "A  view  of  the  country  round  Boston 
taken  from  Beacon  Hill,  shewing  the  lines,  Intrenchments,  Re- 
douts, etc.  of  the  Rebels ;  also  the  Lines  and  Redouts  of  his 
Majesties  Troops.  —  N.B.  These  views  were  taken  by  Lt. 
Williams  of  the  R.  W.  Fuzeliers  and  copied  from  a  Scetch  of 
the  original  drawn  by  Lt.  Woodd  of  the  same  Regiment.  The 
original  drawings  are  now  in  the  possession  of  the  King." 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


225 


GENERAL    GAGE. 

On  the  15th  of  October,  1768,  Gen.  Thomas  Gage  arrived  in 
Boston  from  New  York.  He  was  a  veteran  officer,  had  seen  hard 
service  under  Gen.  Braddock,  being  severely  wounded  at  the 
Monongahela  battle,  and  carried  a  musket  ball  in  his  side  for  the 
remainder  of  his  life  as  a  sad  memento  of  that  fatal  battle ;  there 
he  fought  side  by  side  with  Washington.  An  intimacy  then  ex- 
isted between  them,  which  was  cherished  afterward  by  a  friendly 


THOMAS  GAGE,  THE  LAST  ROYAL  GOVERNOR. 

correspondence,  and  which  only  terminated  twenty  years  after  when 
they  appeared  opposed  to  each  other,  at  the  head  of  contending 
armies  ;  the  one  obeying  the  commands  of  his  sovereign,  the  other 
upholding  the  cause  of  an  oppressed  people.  History  repeats  itself. 
How  many  cases  similar  to  this  occurred  85  years  later,  when 
brother  officers  in  arms  appeared  against  each  other  at  the  head 
of  hostile  armies,  and  friendship  and  brotherly  love  was  changed 


223  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

to  deadly  hatred !  General  Gage  was  now  in  the  prime  of  life, 
being  about  forty-eight  years  of  age.  He  was  the  second  son  of 
Thomas  Viscount  Gage  and  served  with  great  credit  under  several 
commanders  at  Fontenoy,  and  Culloden,  and  in  Brad  dock  cam- 
paign. He  married  an  Ameriean  lady,  the  daughter  of  Peter 
Kemble,  Esq.,  president  of  the  Council  of  New  Jersey;  he  had 
eleven  children,  six  sons  and  five  daughters.  A  niece  of  the  Gen- 
eral by  this  marriage  was  the  wife  of  the  late  Gen.  Win.  H.  Sumner 
of  Jamacia  Plain.  Lord  Abingdon  of  Wytham  married  Emily, 
daughter  of  Gen.  Gage ;  her  maternal  grandmother  was  Margaret, 
daughter  of  the  Hon.  Stephen  Van  Cortlandt  of  New  York. 
Gen.  Gage  was  appointed  to  the  government  of  the  colony  in  1774 
and  occupied  the  Province  House.  Here  was  held  the  famous 
council  between  the  Governor  and  Earl  Percy,  relative  to  the  Con- 
cord expedition  that  led  to  the  battle  of  Lexington,  which  was  so 
mysteriously  noised  abroad,  and  which  Gage  declared  he  had  im- 
parted the  knowledge  of  to  only  one  other  (supposed  to  be  his 
wife).  Even  Lieut. -Col.  Smith,  who  was  entrusted  with  the  com- 
mand, did  not  know  its  destination.  As  Percy  was  going  to  his 
quarters  from  this  interview,  he  met  a  number  of  townspeople  con- 
versing near  the  Common.  As  he  went  towards  them  one  of  them 
remarked,  "The  British  troops  have  marched,  but  will  miss  their 
aim."  "  What  aim?"  asked  the  Earl.  "  The  cannon  at  Concord," 
was  the  answer.  Percy  retraced  his  steps  to  the  Province  House 
where  the  chief  heard  with  surprise  and  mortification  the  news  that 
the  movement  was  no  longer  a  secret.  He  declared  he  had  been 
betrayed.  If  the  information  was  conveyed  to  Paul  Kevere  by 
Gen.  Gage's  wife,  as  many  have  since  been  led  to  believe  it  was, 
then  it  is  a  parallel  case  to  that  where  history  again  repeats  itself 
during  the  late  civil  war,  when  it  was  commonly  reported  that  the 
wife  of  the  President  gave  information  obtained  from  her  husband 
to  her  brother,  who  was  an  officer  in  the  confederate  army. 

After  the  Battle  of  Lexington  and  Bunker  Hill,  Gen.  Gage  was 
recalled  to  England.  Before  his  departure  he  received  several  tes- 
timonials from  his  friends.  The  Council  and  the  leading  loyalists 
presented  separate  addresses  expressing  gratitude  for  his  civil  and 
military  services,  and  highly  eulogistic  of  his  personal  character. 
October  10th  he  sailed  for  England  and  Gen.  Howe,  his  successor, 
took  command  in  his  stead.  Our  portrait  of  Gen.  Gage  is  repro- 
duced from  Sumner's  History  of  East  Boston.  He  died  April, 
1788.  aged  about  67. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  229 


FOUR  ORIGINAL  DRAWINGS  OF  LEXINGTON  AND  CONCORD, 

April  19,  1775. 

As  the  interests  of  Boston  were  closely  connected  with  the 
march  of  the  British  to  Lexington  and  Concord  on  the  19th  of 
April,  1775,  the  publishers  of  this  work  have  obtained  permission 
of  the  trustees  of  the  Cary  Library  at  Lexington  to  copy  the  four 
original  prints  which  quaintly  and,  it  is  believed,  correctly  repre- 
sent the  action  of  that  remarkable  day.  These  famous  engravings 
are  here  faithfully  reproduced,  on  a  somewhat  smaller  scale,  but 
without  embellishment.  Their  special  value  consists  in  the  fact 
that  they  are  from  drawings  made  on  the  spot  during  the  same 
year,  with  all  the  assistance  which  eye-witnesses  could  give  ;  and, 
although  rude  in  perspective  and  in  execution,  they  are  regarded 
as  the  most  accurate  representations  of  the  battle  that  have  ever 
been  made. 

In  the  American  army,  which  was  formed  at  Cambridge  imme- 
diately after  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  there  were  two 
young  artists  from  Connecticut,  Amos  Doolittle,  afterwards  a 
well-known  engraver,  and  a  portrait  painter  by  the  name  of  Earl, 
both  members  of  the  New  Haven  company.  During  their  stay  at 
Cambridge  these  young  men  improved  the  opportunity  of  visiting 
Lexington  and  Concord  for  the  purpose  of  studying  the  battle- 
field and  making  drawings  of  the  several  localities,  the  buildings, 
and  the  forces  in  action.  The  drawings  were  mostly  made  by 
Earl,  and  afterwards  engraved  by  Doolittle,  on  his  return  to 
New  Haven  the  same  year.  The  plates  were  twelve  by  eighteen 
inches  in  size,  and  have  been  claimed  to  be  the  first  series  of  his- 
torical prints  ever  published  in  this  country.  The  Connecticut 
Journal  of  Dec.  13,  1775,  contains  the  following  advertisement : 

"This  Day  Published 
And  to  be  sold  at  the  store  of  Mr.  James  Lockwood,  near  the  College 
in  New  Haven,  four  different  views  of  the  battles  of  Lexington,  Con- 
cord, &c.,  on  the  19th  of  April,  1775. 

"Plate  I.,  the  battle  of  Lexington. 

"  Plate  II.,  a  view  of  the  town  of  Concord,  with  the  ministerial 
troops  destroying  the  stores. 

"  Plate  III.,  the  battle  of  the  North  Bridge  in  Concord. 

"  Plate  IV.,  the  south  part  of  Lexington,  where  the  first  detachment 
was  joined  by  Lord  Percy. 

"  The  above  four  plates  are  neatly  engraven  on  copper  from  original 
paintings  taken  on  the  spot. 

"  Price,  six  shillings  per  set  for  plain  ones,  or  eight  shillings  colored." 


230  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

These  engravings  have  now  become  exceedingly  rare.  The 
plates  were  long  since  destroyed.  In  1832,  a  reduced  copy  of 
Plate  I.  was  made  by  John  W.  Barber,  (afterwards  the  author  of 
"Historical  Collections  of  Massachusetts,")  a  pupil  of  Doolittle's. 
Doolittle  himself  assisted  in  this  engraving,  which  proved  to  be 
the  last,  as  its  original  had  been  the  first,  professional  work  of 
his  life. 

PLATE  I 
Represents  the  opening  scene  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  Between 
twelve  and  one  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  nineteenth  of  April, 
1775,  intelligence  reached  Lexington  that  a  large  body  of  the 
king's  troops  had  started  from  Boston  under  orders,  as  was  sup- 
posed, to  seize  the  provincial  stores  deposited  at  Concord.  The 
alarm  was  immediately  given  and  the  militia  were  summoned  to 
meet  on  the  village  green,  the  usual  place  of  parade.  No  further 
tidings  being  received,  messengers  were  sent  to  reconnoitre  on  the 
Boston  road.  The  militia  assembled  and  waited  in  arms  on  the 
common  until  one  of  the  messengers  returned,  shortly  after  three 
o'clock,  and  reported  that  there  was  no  sign  of  the  troops  any- 
where on  the  road.  Therefore  the  company  was  dismissed,  with 
orders  to  remain  within  call  of  the  drum.  The  men  dispersed 
about  the  village,  some  to  their  homes,  others  to  the  Buckman 
tavern,  the  house  on  the  left  in  the  picture,  with  the  smoking 
chimney.  All  was  again  quiet  for  a  time,  when  suddenly,  about 
half  past  four  o'clock,  a  messenger  announced  that  the  British 
were  within  a  mile  and  a  quarter  of  the  village,  marching  rapidly. 
Again  the  alarm  bell  was  rung,  and  the  drums  beat  to  arms. 
About  fifty  of  the  militia,  with  guns  loaded,  formed  at  once  in 
two  lines,  under  Captain  Parker,  on  the  north  side  of  the  green. 
The  British  force,  numbering  about  eight  hundred  grenadiers,  light 
infantry  and  marines,  under  Lieut. -Colonel  Smith,  had  left  Boston 
about  ten  o'clock  the  previous  evening.  They  had  not  marched 
far  before  they  found  that  the  news  of  the  expedition  had  gone  in 
advance  and  alarmed  the  people  in  all  directions.  Colonel  Smith 
therefore  deemed  it  wise  to  send  forward  six  companies  under 
Major  Pitcairn  to  secure  the  bridges  at  Concord  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble, while  he  sent  back  to  General  Gage  for  re-enforcements.  •  It 
was  this  detachment  under  Pitcairn  that  appears  in  the  center  and 
background  of  the  picture.  Before  reaching  the  common  they 
had  been  ordered  to  halt,  prime  and  load,  and  then,  doubling  their 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  233 

ranks,  they  moved  on  with  a  shout  up  to  the  meeting-house  (the 
large  three-storied  building  in  the  center  of  the  picture) ,  where  a 
portion  of  their  number  left  the  road  and  filed  off  in  platoons  upon 
the  common.  Here  they  were  confronted  with  the  town's  militia, 
who  had  assembled,  not  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  the  king's 
troops,  but  to  defend  themselves  and  their  homes  from  any  unlaw- 
ful violence.  They  had  received  express  orders  not  to  fire  unless 
they  were  fired  upon.  Of  course  fifty  men  could  do  nothing 
against  six  or  eight  hundred  regulars,  yet  there  they  stood,  ready 
to  assert  their  rights  even  at  the  peril  of  their  lives.  Major  Pit- 
cairn  now  rode  forward  on  the  left  of  his  line,  and,  denouncing 
the  provincials  as  rebels,  commanded  them  with  an  oath  to  throw 
down  their  arms  and  disperse.  This  they  refused  to  do,  where- 
upon Pitcairn  drew  a  pistol  and  discharged  it,  ordering  his  men 
at  the  same  time  to  fire.  They  did  so,  and  with  terrible  effect. 
Eight  patriots  were  left  dead  upon  the  ground,  and  ten  were 
wounded  !  The  gallant  little  company  was  broken.  Cries  of  dis- 
tress rent  the  air.  Captain  Parker,  to  prevent  further  slaughter, 
ordered  his  men  to  withdraw.  As  they  did  so,  several  of  them 
returned  the  fire,  wounding  one  or  more  British  soldiers  and  hit- 
ting Pitcairn's  horse  in  two  places.  When  the  firing  ceased,  a 
few  red-coats  pursued  the  retreating  farmers  up  the  road  and  over 
into  some  of  the  adjacent  fields,  but  they  soon  returned,  and  the 
whole  column  re-formed  and  took  up  the  line  of  march  about  sun- 
rise, having  first  fired  a  volley  and  huzzaed  three  times  in  token 
of  victory.  The  provincials  succeeded  in  capturing  six  of  the 
regulars, — the  first  prisoners  taken  in  the  Revolution.  Of  the 
buildings  in  the  picture,  the  tavern  still  remains  in  excellent  pres- 
ervation. The  meeting-house  was  taken  down  in  1793.  Upon  the 
erection  of  its  successor,  the  following  year,  with  a  bell-tower,  the 
detached  belfry,  which  had  done  such  good  service,  was  removed 
to  the  estate  of  Captain  Parker  and  used  as  a  corn-barn  and  work- 
shop. The  tongue  of  the  bell  is  now  in  the  Library  at  Lexing- 
ton. The  house  on  the  right  of  the  belfry,  across  the  road,  was 
the  Dudley  tavern,  which  was  taken  down  in  1867.  The  village 
green  remains  substantially  as  it  was.  The  bodies  of  the  slain 
rest  beneath  the  simple  monument  erected  by  the  State  of  Massa- 
chusetts in  1799. 


»' 


234  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

PLATE  II 
Represents  the  arrival  of  the  British  in  the  village  of  Concord, 
about  six  miles  beyond  Lexington  and  eighteen  from  Boston.  The 
meeting-house  is  seen  on  the  extreme  left,  the  town-house  on  the 
right,  and  the  old  Wright  tavern  in  the  center.  Colonel  Smith 
and  Major  Pitcairn  (evidently  caricatured)  are  standing  in  the 
cemetery,  the  latter  with  a  field-glass  watching  the  movements 
of  the  provincials  on  the  hill  beyond  the  north  bridge.  In  the 
rear  of  the  meeting-house  a  small  detachment  may  be  seen  en- 
gaged in  destroying  the  military  stores  collected  there  for  the 
use  of  the  militia.  The  British  had  encountered  no  opposition  on 
the  road  from  Lexington.  News  of  their  approach  had  reached 
Concord  at  an  early  hour,  and  the  alarm  had  been  widely  spread, 
messengers  being  dispatched  to  arouse  the  neighboring  towns. 
Every  possible  precaution  was  made  to  meet  the  enemy.  Many 
of  the  military  stores  were  removed  to  places  of  safety.  The 
militia  and  minute-men  paraded  on  the  green  in  front  of  the  meet- 
ing-house, and  some  companies  went  out  about  two  miles  on  the 
Lexington  road  to  reconnoitre.  Seeing  the  regulars  approaching 
rapidly,  they  fell  back  upon  a  hill  overlooking  the  road,  within  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  common.  Here  they  were  joined  b}r  Col. 
Barrett,  their  senior  officer,  who  had  returned  from  secreting  the 
colony's  stores  and  ammunition.  It  was  now  seven  o'clock.  The 
sun  was  shining  brightly  upon  the  scene.  Through  clouds  of  dust, 
the  British  were  advancing  with  gleaming  bayonets,  rolling  drums 
and  measured  tread.  It  was  useless  to  attempt  resistance  there, 
and  so  the  provincials  at  once  retired  to  a  hill  beyond  the  river, 
about  a  mile  to  the  north,  in  order  to  watch  the  enemy  and  wait 
for  re-enforcements.  Meanwhile  the  king's  troops  marched  into 
Concord  in  two  columns,  the  infantry  coming  over  the  hill  from 
which  the  Americans  had  retired,  and  the  grenadiers  and  marines 
following  the  high  road.  On  reaching  the  court  house,  Colonel 
Smith  ordered  six  companies  (about  two  hundred  men),  under 
Capt.  Parsons,  to  hold  the  bridges  and  destroy  certain  stores  on  the 
other  side.  With  the  balance  of  his  command  he  remained  in  the 
center  of  the  town,  destroying  such  things  as  he  could  lay  hands 
on  The  real  loss,  however,  proved  to  be  but  slight.  About 
sixty  barrels  of  flour  were  emptied,  half  of  which  was  afterwards 
saved ;  three  cannon  had  their  trunnions  knocked  off ;  sixteen  new 
carriage-wheels  and  a  few  barrels  of  wooden  trenchers  and  spoons 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  237 

were  burned  ;  the  liberty-pole  was  cut  down  ;  and  about  five  hun- 
dred pounds  of  balls  were  thrown  into  the  pond  and  wells.  The 
court  house  was  set  on  fire,  but  was  happily  saved.  The  meeting- 
house (No.  7)  was  built  in  1712,  and  repaired  in  1791.  It  was 
in  this  building  that  the  Provincial  Congress  sat  in  1774-5.  The 
present  Unitarian  church  is  constructed  of  the  old  timbers,  although 
the  appearance  is  materially  changed.  The  old  Wright  tavern,  in 
the  center  of  the  picture,  remains  in  good  condition  to  the  present 
time. 

PLATE  III 
Represents  the  engagement  at  the  North  Bridge.  Capt.  Parsons, 
who  had  been  sent  out  by  Col.  Smith  with  a  detachment  of  light 
infantry,  posted  Capt.  Laurie  with  three  companies  at  the  bridge, 
while  he  proceeded  to  Colonel  Barrett's  house  in  search  of  stores. 
The  Americans  had  gathered  on  the  high  ground,  west  of  the 
bridge,  and  now  numbered  about  four  hundred  and  fifty  men,  rep- 
resenting many  of  the  neighboring  towns.  From  their  rendezvous 
they  could  readily  see  the  movements  of  the  British,  both  at  the 
bridge  and  in  the  town  where  the  destruction  of  stores  was  going 
on.  The  increasing  fires  in  the  village  filled  them  with  apprehen- 
sion, and  they  determined,  after  a  brief  consultation,  to  cross  the 
bridge  and  move  on  to  the  defense  of  the  town.  Capt.  William 
Smith  of  Lincoln  volunteered  with  his  company  to  dislodge  the 
guard  at  the  bridge.  Capt.  Isaac  Davis,  who  commanded  the 
Acton  minute-men,  drew  his  sword,  and,  turning  towards  his  com- 
pany, said,  "I  haven't  a  man  that's  afraid  to  go."  Col.  Barrett 
ordered  the  advance,  but  instructed  them  not  to  fire  unless  they 
were  fired  upon.  The  command  was  given  to  Major  Buttrick  of 
Concord,  who  led  the  column  to  the  bridge.  He  was  supported 
by  Lieut. -Colonel  Robinson  of  Westford.  It  was  about  ten  o'clock 
when  they  started  for  the  river,  the  Acton  company  in  front,  led 
by  the  gallant  Davis.  They  marched  in  double  file  and  with 
trailed  arms.  The  British  guard,  numbering  about  one  hundred 
men,  were  then  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  Seeing  the  pro- 
vincials approach,  they  recrossed  the  bridge  and  began  to  take  up 
the  planks.  Major  Buttrick  remonstrated  against  this,  and  hur- 
ried his  men  forward  along  the  narrow  causeway  leading  to  the 
bridge  The  British  now  drew  up  in  line  of  battle  on  the  oppo- 
site side  and  immediately  opened  fire  upon  them.  The  first  shots 
did  no  serious  execution  ;  one  or  two  were  wounded ;  but  then 


238  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

came  a  volley  with  fatal  effect.  Capt.  Davis  and  Abner  Hosmer 
of  the  same  company  both  fell  dead.  Seeing  this,  Major  Buttrick 
shouted,  "Fire,  fellow  soldiers  !  for  God's  sake,  fire  !"  The  order 
was  instantly  obeyed.  One  of  the  British  was  killed  and  several 
were  wounded  ;  whereupon  they  retreated  in  confusion  toward  the 
center  of  the  village.  The  Americans  pursued  them  a  short  dis- 
tance and  then  turned  aside  to  occupy  favorable  positions  on  the 
adjacent  hills.  In  the  meantime,  the  detachment  under  Capt.  Par- 
sons returned  from  the  Barrett  house,  crossed  the  bridge,  and 
joined  the  main  body  unmolested.  Two  British  soldiers  lie  buried 
near  the  stone  wall  where  they  fell.  The  bodies  of  Davis  and 
Hosmer  were  carried  to  Acton  for  burial.  The  old  bridge,  which 
appears  in  the  picture,  was  discontinued  for  many  years,  owing  to 
a  change  of  the  Acton  road.  In  1875,  a  new  one  was  built  lead- 
ing to  the  Statue  of  the  Minute-Man,  which  stands  on  the  site 
occupied  by  the  patriots  in  the  fatal  engagement. 

"  By  the  rude  bridge  that  arched  the  flood, 
Their  flag  to  April's  breeze  unfurled, 
Here  once  the  embattled  farmers  stood 

And  fired  the  shot  heard  round  the  world." 

PLATE  IV 
After  the  Concord  fight,  Col.  Smith  collected  his  forces,  and 
seeing  the  imminent  danger  to  which  he  was  exposed,  hastened  to 
provide  conveyances  for  his  wounded,  and,  about  twelve  o'clock, 
set  out  on  the  return  march  to  Boston.  The  invaders  now  became 
fugitives,  and  the  retreat  soon  turned  into  a  flight.  The  whole 
county  of  Middlesex  had  been  aroused,  and  men  poured  in  from 
every  quarter  with  powder-horn  and  musket,  ready  to  do  yeoman 
service.  Without  much  order  or  discipline  they  posted  them- 
selves behind  houses,  trees  and  'walls,  and  poured  an  almost  inces- 
sant fire  into  the  enemy's  ranks.  The  British  column,  exposed  to 
such  a  galling  attack  in  flank  and  rear,  was  thrown  into  the  greatest 
confusion ;  several  were  killed  and  many  were  wounded  ;  and  had 
it  not  been  that  re-enforcements  were  awaiting  them,  they  "'ould 
inevitably  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans.  This 
very  emergency  had  been  anticipated ;  and  General  Gage  had 
sent  out  a  brigade  of  about  twelve  hundred  men  with  two  field- 
pieces,  under  the  command  of  Earl  Percy,  for  the  relief  of  the 
expedition.  The  forces  met  at  Lexington,  shortly  before  two 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  about  a  third  of  a  mile  east  of  the  com- 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  241 

mon.  Plate  IV.  represents  the  scene  of  the  meeting,  with  the 
surrounding  objects.  The  retreating  column  is  seen  on  the  right. 
"They  were  so  much  exhausted  with  fatigue,"  says  Stedman,  the 
British  historian,  who  was  present  and  saw  them,  "that  they  were 
obliged  to  lie  down  upon  the  ground,  their  tongues  hanging  out 
of  their  mouths,  like  those  of  dogs  after  a  chase."  In  the  picture 
the  re-enforcements  occupy  the  main  road,  with  flanking  parties 
thrown  out  on  either  side.  One  of  the  six-pounder  field-pieces 
is  seen  on  a  knoll  near  the  road  (where  the  High  school  stands 
now) .  The  other  was  placed  upon  the  eminence  to  the  left,  beyond 
the  troops  and  above  the  Munroe  Tavern  (which  is  not  seen  in  the 
picture) ,  where  Lord  Percy  had  established  his  headquarters  and 
hospital  for  the  wounded.  These  cannon  were  trained  upon  the 
provincials,  wherever  they  appeared  in  groups  in  different  parts 
of  the  town.  One  of  the  balls  pierced  the  meeting-house  and 
passed  out  through  the  pulpit  window.  Several  have  been  plowed 
up  within  the  last  few  years.  Lord  Percy  and  Col.  Smith  are 
seen  holding  a  conference.  In  the  background,  the  provincials 
are  recognized  on  the  Woburn  road,  using  the  stone  wall  as  a 
breastwork.  Many  of  them  were  excellent  marksmen  and  used 
their  muskets  with  terrible  effect.  Beyond  the  main  road  several 
buildings  are  seen  in  flames.  Three  houses,  two  shops  and  a  barn 
were  burned  in  Lexington ;  and  many  other  buildings  were  pil- 
laged and  defaced.  After  a  short  interval  of  rest  aad  refreshment 
the  British  collected  their  forces,  and,  about  three  o'clock,  took 
up  the  line  of  march  for  Boston,  placing  the  cannon  in  the  rear. 
At  every  point  on  the  road  they  encountered  increasing  numbers 
of  the  militia,  who  by  this  time  had  gathered  in  such  force  as  to 
constitute  a  formidable  foe.  It  was  a  terrible  march.  "ilany  were 
killed  on  both  sides,  and  it  was  with  the  greatest  difliculty  that 
Lord  Percy  was  able  at  last,  about  sunset,  to  bring  his  command 
to  Charlestown  neck,  under  cover  of  the  ships  of  war.  The  British 
lost  that  day,  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  273  ;  the  Americans 
93.  The  war  of  the  Eevolution  had  commenced  in  earnest,  and 
was  destined  not  to  close  until  the  independence  of  the  United 
States  was  secure. 

We  are  indebted  to  Eev.  E.  G.  Porter,  of  Lexington,  for  the 
the  above  graphic  description  of  the  engagement  at  Lexington 
and  Concord. 


242  ANTIQUE  VIEW 8  OF  BOSTON. 

BATTLE    OF    BUNKER    HILL. 

The  news  of  the  fight  at  Lexington  and  Concord  spread  through- 
out the  country  with  the  greatest  rapidity,  so  that  within  two  days 
after,  such  a  great  body  of  the  Americans  had  collected,  that  the 
British  were  blockaded  in  Boston,  and  all  intercourse  with  the 
country  ceased.  Consequently  the  people  were  now  cut  off  from 
their  customary  supplies  of  provisions,  fuel  and  necessaries  of  life. 
This  exposed  them  to  great  distress.  Civil  war  in  all  its  horrors 
was  at  their  doors — the  sundering  of  social  ties,  the  burning  of 
peaceful  homes,  the  butchery  of  kindred  and  friends,  and  the 
uncertanty  of  their  own  fate. 

Towards  the  end  of  May,  Generals  Howe,  Clinton  and  Burgoyne, 
with  reinforcements,  arrived  from  England,  and  the  British  army 
burned  to  try  their  prowess  against  the  rebels  in  open  fight.  June 
16th,  1775,  the  provincial  Congress  at  Cambridge  decided  to  take 
measures  to  fortify  Bunker  Hill.  A  detachment,  under  Col. 
Prescott  commenced,  at  nine  o'clock,  its  memorable  march  to 
Charlestown.  On  arriving  on  the  spot,  it  was  decided  to  fortify 
Breed's  Hill,  instead  of  Bunker  Hill,  as  it  was  nearer  Boston, 
although  the  order  was  explicit  as  to  Bunker  Hill.  By  the  dawn 
of  day,  works  about  six  feet  in  height  were  seen  by  the  sailors  on 
the  man-of-war  Lively.  The  captain  immediately  opened  fire  on 
the  works,  which  alarmed  the  British  camp,  and  summoned  the  in- 
habitants of  Boston  to  witness  the  terrible  drama  about  to  be 
enacted.  General  Gage  immediately  called  a  council  of  war  and  it 
was  decided  to  attack  the  Americans.  The  fratricidal  struggle  was 
about  to  commence ;  men  of  the  same  race  and  blood  who  had 
stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  in  many  a  hard  fought  field,  brothers, 
fathers  and  sons  were  about  to  engage  in  a  deadlv  struggle  that 
should  last  for  years,  and  which  eighty-six  years  afterwards  was  to 
be  repeated  over  again.  About  twelve  o'clock  the  several  regiments 
marched  through  the  streets  of  Boston  to  their  places  of  embarka- 
tion, and  two  ships  of  war  moved  up  Charles  River  to  join  the 
others  in  firing  on  the  works.  Suddenly  the  redoubled  roar  of 
cannon  announced  that  the  crisis  was  at  hand.  The  Falcon  and 
Lively  swept  the  low  ground  in  front  of  the  hill,  to  dislodge  any 
troops  that  might  be  posted  there  to  oppose  their  landing  The 
Somerset  and  two  floating  batteries  at  the  ferry,  and  the  battery  on 
Copp's  Hill,  poured  shot  upon  the  American  works  ;  the  Glasgow 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  243 

frigate  and  the  Symmetry  transport,  moored  up  Charles  River, 
raked  the  Neck.  The  troops  embarked  at  Long  Wharf  and  at  the 
North  Battery,  and  when  a  blue  flag  was  displayed  as  a  signal, 
the  fleet,  with  field-pieces  in  the  leading  barge,  moved  towards 
Charlestown.  The  sun  was  shining  in  meridian  splendor  and  the 
scarlet  uniforms,  the  glistening  armor,  the  brazen  artillery,  the 
regular  movements  of  the  boats,  the  flashes  of  fire  and  the  belch- 
ings  of  smoke,  formed  a  spectacle  brilliant  and  imposing.  The 
army  landed  in  good  order  at  Moulton's  Point,  and  formed  in  three 
lines.  When  the  intelligence  of  the  landing  of  the  British  troops 
reach  Cambridge,  there  was  suddenly  great  noise  and  confusion. 
The  bells  were  rung,  the  drums  beat  to  arms,  and  adjutants  rode 
hurriedly  from  point  to  point  with  orders  for  troops  to  march  and 
oppose  the  enemy. 


Narrow  Neck.  Bunker  Hill.  Breed's  Hill.  Moulton's  Point. 

VIEW  OF  CHARLESTOWN  FROM   BEACON   HILL. 

The  defences  of  the  American,  at  three  in  the  afternoon,  were 
still  in  a  rude,  unfinished  state.  The  redoubt,  where  the  monument 
stands,  was  about  eight  rods  square.  Its  strongest  side,  the  front, 
facing  the  settled  part  of  the  town,  was  made  with  projecting  angles, 
and  protected  the  south  side  of  the  hill.  The  eastern  side  com- 
manded an  exteDsive  field.  The  north  side  had  an  open  passage- 
way. A  breastwork,  beginning  a  short  distance  from  the  redoubt, 
and  on  a  line  with  its  eastern  side,  extended  about  one  hundred 
yards  north  towards  a  slough.  In  the  rear  of  the  north  corner  of 
the  breastworks,  on  a  diagonal  line,  extended  a  fence  one-half  of 
which  was  stone,  with  two  rails  of  wood,  and  a  little  distance  in 
front  another  parellel  line  of  fence,  and  the  space  between  them 
filled  with  newly  cut  hay.  A  distance  of  about  one  hundred  yards 
between  the  slough  and  the  rail  fence  was  open  to  the  approach 
of  infantry.  It  was  the  weakest  part  of  the  defences.  The  redoubt 
and  breastwork  constituted  a  good  defence  against  cannon  and 
musketry,  but  the  fences  were  hardly  more  than  a  shadow  of  pro- 
tection. Behind  the  fence  was  stationed  Colonel  John  Stark  with 
his  regiment. 


244  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

The  redoubt  was  defended  by  Generals  Putnam,  Warren,  Pom- 
roy,  and  Colonel  Prescott.  It  is  not  known  who  was  in  command, 
but  it  is  generally  conceded  that  Colonel  Prescott  and  General 
Putnam  each  took  an  equally  important  part  in  the  struggle. 
Meantime  the  main  body  of  the  British  troops  at  Moulton's  Point 
were  waiting  for  reinforcements  to  arrive,  during  which  many  of 
the  troops  quietly  dined.  It  proved  to  many  a  brave  man  his  last 
meal.  It  was  nearly  three  o'clock  when  the  barges  returned  with 
reinforcements  ;  there  had  now  landed  nearly  three  thousand  troops. 
Gen.  Howe  just  previous  to  the  action  addressed  his  army  in  which 
he  said  ' '  I  shall  not  desire  one  of  you  to  go  a  step  further  than 
where  I  go  myself  at  your  head,"  and  true  to  his  word  he  led  his 
men  into  the  entrenchments.  The  fire  now  from  Copp's  Hill,  the 
ships  and  batteries,  centered  on  the  entrenchments  ;  their  general 
discharge  was  intended  to  cover  the  advance  of  the  British.  They 
moved  forward  in  two  divisions.  General  Howe  with  the  right 
wing  to  penetrate  the  American  line  at  the  rail  fence,  and  cut  oiF 
a  retreat  from  the  redoubt.  General  Pigot  with  the  left  wing  to 
storm  the  breastworks  and  redoubt.  The  troops  moved  slowly 
for  they  were  burdened  with  knapsacks  full  of  provisions,  obstructed 
by  the  tall  grass  and  fences,  and  heated  by  a  burning  sun ;  they 
regarded  their  antagonists  with  scorn  and  expected  an  easy  victory. 
The  Americans  coolly  waited  their  approach.  Their  officers  ordered 
them  to  reserve  their  fire.  "Wait  until  you  see  the  whites  of  their 
eyes."  "Fire  low."  "Aim  at  their  waistbands."  "Pick  oif 
the  commanders."  "Aim  at  the  handsome  coats."  The  troops 
kept  firing  as  they  approached  the  lines.  The  order  was  at  last 
given  to  the  Americans  to  fire,  when  there  was  a  simultanious 
discharge  from  the  redoubt  and  breastwork  that  did  terrible 
execution  on  the  British  ranks.  But  it  was  received  with  veteran 
firmness,  and  for  a  few  minutes  was  sharply  returned.  The 
Americans  being  protected  by  their  works,  suffered  but  little,  but 
their  murderous  balls  literally  strewed  the  ground  with  the  dead 
and  wounded  of  the  enemy.  General  Pigot  was  obliged  to  order  a 
retreat,  when  the  exulting  shout  of  victory  rose  from  the  American 
lines.  General  Howe,  in  the  meantime,  led  the  right  wing  against 
the  ran  fence.  The  light  infantry  moved  along  the  shore  of  Mystic 
river,  to  turn  the  extreme  left  of  the  American  line,  while  the 
grenadiers  advanced  directly  in  front.  The  Americans  first  opened 
on  them  with  their  field  pieces  with  great  effect,  some  of  the  can- 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  247 

non  being  fired  by  Putnam.  This  drew  the  enemy's  fire,  which 
they  continued  with  the  regularity  of  troops  on  parade.  At  length 
the  word  was  given  to  fire.  Many  were  marksmen,  intent  on 
cutting  down  the  British  officers.  They  used  the  fence  for  a  rest 
for  their  pieces,  and  the  bullets  were  true  to  their  message.  The 
companies  were  cut  up  with  terrible  severity  and  so  great  was  the 
carnage  that  the  columns  a  few  moments  before  so  proud  and  firm 
in  their  array  were  disconcerted,  partly  broken,  and  then  retreated. 
And  now  moments  of  joy  succeeded  long  hours  of  toil,  anxiety 
and  peril.  The  American  volunteer  saw  the  veterans  of  England 
retreat  before  his  fire,  and  felt  a  new  confidence  in  himself.  The 
result  too  was  obtained  with  but  little  loss  on  his  side. 

Charlestown  in  the  meantime,  had  been  set  on  fire  by  shells  fired 
from  Copp's  Hill  and  by  a  party  of  marines  from  the  Somerset. 
Gen.  Howe  in  a  short  time  rallied  his  troops  and  immediately  ordered 
another  assault.  They  marched  in  the  same  order  as  before,  firing  as 
they  approached  the  works.  The  American  officers  ordered  their 
men  not  to  fire  until  the  enemy  were  within  five  or  six  rods  of  the 
works.  At  length  the  prescribed  distance  was  reached,  and  the  terri- 
ble fire  prostrated  whole  ranks  of  officers  and  men .  The  enemy  stood 
the  shock  and  continued  to  advance  with  great  spirit,  but  the  con- 
tinued stream  of  fire  that  issued  from  the  whole  American  line  was 
even  more  destructive  than  before.  Gen.  Howe,  opposite  the  rail 
fence,  was  in  the  hottest  of  it.  Two  of  his  aids,  and  other  officers 
near  him,  were  shot  down,  and  at  times  he  was  left  almost  alone. 
At  length  the  British  were  compelled  to  retreat,  many  running 
towards  their  boats.  The  ground  was  covered  with  the  killed  and 
wounded.  Gen.  Howe  resolved  to  make  another  assault.  Some 
of  his  officers  remonstrated  against  the  decision,  and  averred  that 
it  would  be  downright  butchery  to  lead  men  on  again,  but  other 
officers  preferred  any  sacrifice  rather  than  suffer  defeat.  The  boats 
were  at  Boston;  there  was  no  retreat.  "Fight,  conquor  or  die  !" 
was  their  repeated  exclamation. 

A  force  of  four  hundred  marines  had  landed,  and  Gen.  Clinton, 
who  had  witnessed  from  Copp's  Hill  the  retreat  of  the  troops,  joined 
Gen.  Howe  as  a  volunteer  in  the  attack.  A  different  mode  of 
attack  was  decided  on.  The  men  were  ordered  to  lay  aside  their 
knapsacks,  to  move  forward  in  column,  to  reserve  their  fire,  to  rely 
on  the  bayonet,  to  direct  their  main  attack  on  the  redoubt,  to  push 
forward  the  artillery  to  a  position  that  would  enable  it  to  rake  the 


248  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

breastwork.  The  gallant  execution  of  these  orders  reversed  the 
fortunes  of  the  day.  Gen.  Howe,  whose  fine  figure  and  gallant 
bearing  were  observed  at  the  American  lines,  led  the  grenadiers 
and  light  infantry  in  front  of  the  breastwork,  while  Generals 
Clinton  and  Pigot  led  the  extreme  left  of  the  troops  to  scale  the 
redoubt.  On  the  right  the  artillery  soon  gained  its  appointed 
station,  enfiladed  the  line  of  breastworks,  drove  its  defenders  into 
the  redoubt  for  protection,  and  did  much  execution  within  by  send- 
ing its  balls  through  the  passage-way.  When  the  British  had 
reached  within  about  twenty  yards  of  the  works  a  deadly  volley 
was  poured  upon  the  advancing  columns,  which  made  them  waver 
for  an  instant,  but  they  sprang  forward  to  the  assault  without  re- 
turning it.  Clinton  and  Pigot  reached  a  position  on  the  southern 
and  eastern  sides  of  the  redoubt,  where  they  were  protected  by  its 
walls.  It  was  now  attacked  on  three  sides  at  once,  and  was  soon 
successfully  scaled.  Gen.  Pigot,  by  the  aid  of  a  tree,  mounted  a 
corner  of  it  and  was  closely  followed  by  his  men.  The  conflict 
was  now  carried  on  hand  to  hand  ;  many  stood  and  received  wounds 
with  swords  and  bayonets.  The  British  continued  to  enter  and 
were  advancing  towards'  the  Americans  when  Colonel  Prescott 
gave  the  order  to  retreat.  The  British,  with  cheers,  took  possession 
of  the  works,  but  immediately  formed,  and  delivered  a  destructive 
fire  upon  the  retreating  troops.  Warren,  at  this  period,  was  killed 
and  left  on  the  field,  and  the  loss  of  the  Americans  were  greater 
than  at  any  other  period  of  the  action.  In  the  meantime  the  Ameri- 
cans at  the  rail  fence,  under  Stark,  maintained  their  ground  with 
firmness  and  intrepidity,  and  successfully  resisted  every  attempt 
to  turn  their  flank.  This  line  was  nobly  defended  and  the  force 
here  did  a  great  service,  for  it  saved  the  main  body,  who  were 
retreating  in  disorder  from  the  redoubt,  from  being  cut  off  by  the 
enemy,  and  when  it  was  perceived  that  the  force  under  Colonel 
Prescott  had  left  the  hill,  then  these  brave  men  at  the  fence  gave 
ground.  The  whole  body  of  Americans  were  now  in  full  retreat, 
crossing  the  brow  of  Bunker  Hill.  At  this  place  occured  the  greatest 
slaughter.  Gen.  Putnam  rode  to  the  rear  of  the  retreating  troops, 
exclaiming,  "Make  a  stand  here,  we  can  stop  them.  In  God's 
name,  form,  and  give  them  one  shot  more."  It  was  impossible  to 
check  the  retreat,  notwithstanding  reinforcements  arrived.  Colonel 
Scammons,  with  a  part  of  his  regiment,  and  Captain  Foster's  artillery 
company,  reached  the  top  of  Bunker  Hill,  but  immediately  retreated 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  251 

with  the  rest,  so  fierce  was  the  onslaught  of  the  British.  The 
whole  body  retired  over  the  Neck,  amidst  the  shot  from  the  ene- 
my's ships  and  batteries,  and  were  met  by  additional  troops  on 
their  way  to  the  heights,  who  also  joined  in  the  retreat.  The 
British  troops  took  possession  with  a  parade  of  triumph  the  same 
hill  that  had  served  them  for  a  retreat  on  the  memorable  nine- 
teenth of  April.  The  Americans  retreated  to  Winter  Hill,  Pros- 
pect Hill,  and  Cambridge.  Both  sides  felt  indisposed  to  renew 
the  action  the  following  day.  The  loss  of  the  peninsular  damp- 
ened the  ardor  of  the  Americans,  and  the  loss  of  men  depressed 
the  spirits  of  the  British. 

It  is  impossible  to  state  the  number  of  troops  engaged  on  either 
side.  Colonel  Sweet  says  the  number  of  the  Americans  during  the 
battle  was  fluctuating,  but  may  be  fairly  estimated  at  three  thousand 
five  hundred  who  joined  in  the  battle  and  five  hundred  more  who 
covered  the  retreat.  Gen.  Putnam's  estimate  was  two  thousand 
two  hundred.  This  is  as  near  accuracy  as  can  be  arrived  at.  Gen. 
Gage,  in  his  official  account,  states  the  British  force  at  "something 
over  two  thousand."  Americans  who  counted  the  troops  as  they 
left  the  wharves  in  Boston,  state  that  five  thousand  went  over  to 
Charlestown,  and  probably  not  less  than  from  three  to  four  thousand 
were  actually  engaged.  The  time  the  battle  lasted  is  estimated  at 
one  hour  and  a  half.  The  loss  of  the  Americans  were,  killed  one 
hundred  and  fifteen,  wounded  three  hundred  and  five,  captured 
thirty.  Total,  four  hundred  and  fifty.  They  also  lost  five  pieces 
of  cannon  out  of  six,  and  a  large  quantity  of  entrenching  tools. 

The  British  loss  was  ten  hundred  and  fifty  four ;  of  these  two 
hundred  and  twenty  six  were  killed,  including  nineteen  officers, 
among  whom  were  Lieutenant-Colonel  Abercrombie  at  the  head  of 
the  grenadiers  who  was  shot  while  storming  the  works.  He  was 
a  brave  and  noble-hearted  soldier ;  and  when  the  men  were  bearing 
him  from  the  field,  he  begged  them  to  spare  his  old  friend  Putnam. 
"If  you  take.  Gen.  Putnam  alive,"  he  said  "  don't  hang  him ;  for 
he's  a  brave  man."  Major  Pitcairn,  the  commander  of  the  marines, 
was  also  killed.  He  had  been  wounded  twice  ;  then  putting  him- 
self at  the  head  of  his  force  he  again  stormed  the  redoubt,  calling 
out,  "Now  for  the  glory  of  the  marines  !"  He  received  four  balls 
in  his  body  and  as  he  fell  his  son  exclaimed  "I  have  lost  my 
father."  ' '  We  have  all  lost  a  father,"  was  the  echo  of  the  regiment, 
by  whom  he  was  much  loved.     His  son  bore  his  body  to  a  boat, 


252  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

and  thence  to  Prince  street,  where  he  expired.  He  was  widely  known 
from  his  connection  with  the  events  at  Lexington,  and  was  a  kind, 
courteous  and  accomplished  officer,  and  an  exemplary  man. 

Among  the  American  officers  killed  was  Gen.  Warren,  and  Cols. 
Gardner  and  Parker  afterwards  died  of  their  wounds.  Gen. 
Warren  exerted  great  influence  in  the  battle.  Having  been  one  of 
the  prime  movers  in  the  Revolution,  he  decided  to  devote  his 
energies  to  promote  it  in  future  battle-fields.  He  was  elected 
Major  General,  June  14th,  and  on  June  16th  he  officiated  as  Presi- 
dent of  the  Provincial  Congress.  Though  opposed  to  the  measure 
of  occupying  so  exposed  a  post  as  Bunker  Hill,  yet  he  avowed  the 
intention  if  it  should  be  resolved  upon  to  share  the  peril  of  it.  He 
accordingly  armed  himself  and  proceeded  to  Charlestown,  where 
he  was  tendered  the  command  by  Col.  Prescott  and  Gen.  Putnam, 
which  he  declined,  saying  "Tell  me  where  the  onset  will  be  the 
most  furious."  "Where  I  can  be  the  most  useful."  He  passed 
into  the  redoubt  where  the  men  received  him  with  cheers.  He 
mingled  in  the  fight,  behaved  with  great  bravery,  and  was  among 
the  last  to  leave  the  redoubt.  He  lingered  even  to  rashness  in  his 
retreat,  and  had  not  proceeded  far  when  a  ball  struck  him  in  the 
forehead  and  he  fell  to  the  ground.  On  the  next  day  visitors  to 
the  battle-field  recognized  his  body,  and  it  was  buried  where  he 
fell .  After  the  British  left  Boston,  the  sacred  remains  were  sought 
after  and  again  identified,  and  were  at  first  deposited  in  the  Tremont 
Cemetery  and  subsequently  in  the  family  vault  under  St.  Paul's 
Church,  and  were  again  removed,  a  few  years  since,  to  Forest 
Hill  Cemetery.  The  intellegence  of  his  death  spread  a  gloom 
over  the  country.  No  one  was  more  widely  beloved,  or  was  more 
highly  valued.  Gen.  Howe  could  hardly  credit  the  report  that  the 
President  of  Congress  was  among  the  killed,  and  is  said  to  have 
declared  that  this  victim  was  worth  five  hundred  of  their  men. 

No  engagement  of  the  Revolution  possesses  an  interest  so  deep 
and  peculiar,  or  produced  consequences  so  important,  as  the  Battle 
of  Bunker  Hill.  It  is  remarkable  on  many  accounts — in  being  the 
first  great  battle  of  the  contest ;  in  the  astonishing  resistance  made 
by  the  militia  against  veteran  troops.  It  proved  the  quality  of  the 
American  soldiers,  and  established  the  fact  of  open  war  between 
the  colonies  and  the  mother  country.  It  was  a  victory  under  the 
name  of  a  defeat.  And  yet,  at  first,  it  was  regarded  with  disap- 
pointment and  indignation,  and  whether  private  or  official,  accounts 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  255 

of  it  are  rather  in  the  tone  of  apology  than  of  exultation.  The 
enterprise  was  considered  rash  in  the  conception,  and  discreditable 
in  the  execution.  No  one  for  years  came  forward  to  claim  the 
honor  of  having  directed  it.  Passing  events  are  seldom  accurately 
estimated,  but  as  time  rolled  on  its  connections  with  the  great 
movement  of  the  age  appeared  in  its  true  light.  Hence  the  Battle 
of  Bunker  Hill  now  stands  out  as  the  grand  opening  scene  of  the 
American  Revolution. 

Our  view  of  the  attack  on  Bunker  Hill  and  the  burning  of 
Charlestown  is  reproduced  from  "Barnard's  History  of  England," 
and  is  considered  a  very  rare  print. 


A   PLAN   OF   THE   ACTION   AT   BUNKER'S   HILL. 

This  map  was  published  in  1777,  and  was  made  by  Lieut.  Page, 
an  engineer  of  the  royal  navy,  and  is  from  an  actual  survey  by 
Captain  Montresor.  Lieut.  Page  particularly  distinguished  him- 
self in  the  storming  of  the  redoubt,  for  which  he  received  Gen. 
Howe's  thanks.  "This  gentleman,"  says  the  London  Chronicle, 
Jan.  11th,  1776,  "  is  the  only  one  now  living  of  those  who  acted 
as  aid-de-camp  to  G-en.  Howe,  so  great  was  the  slaughter  of  officers 
that  day."  He  was  on  the  field  for  months  after  the  action,  and 
doubtless  often  visited  the  redoubt  which  he  helped  to  storm,  and 
thus  he  would  be  likely  to  master  the  details  of  the  battle,  while 
his  profession  as  an  engineer  and  his  services  as  a  soldier  qualified 
him  for  the  work  of  preparing  a  plan  of  the  battle,  which  is  con- 
sidered the  most  accurate  of  any  published.  The  size  of  the 
original  is  19x26. 

A  view  of  the  heights  and  hills  is  more  fully  represented  on  a 
sketch  drawn  in  1775.  It  is  entitled  "A  View  of  Charlestown 
and  the  Back  Ground  as  far  as  the  Narrow  Pass.  Taken  from 
Beacon  Hill."  On  the  right  of  the  picture  is  Moulton  Hill,  which 
was  near  where  Chelsea  Bridge  commences.  Near  this  hill  on  a 
point,  now  a  portion  of  the  Navy  Yard,  the  British  army  landed. 

"  A   PLAN   OP    BOSTON   IN   NEW  ENGLAND   WITH   ITS   ENVIRONS." 

This  plan  was  made  by  Henry  Pelham,  the  half  brother  of 
Copley,  the  painter.  It  was  made  under  permission  of  J. 
Urquhart,  town  major,  Aug.  28,  1775.  It  shows  the  lines  about 
the  town  and  the  harbor.  It  was  printed  in  two  sheets  and  pub- 
lished in  London,  June  2, 1777,  done  in  aquatinta  by  Francis  Jukes. 
This  copy  is  reproduced  from  the  original  in  the  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society's  library. 


256  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

warren's  house,  1775. 

Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  in  the  latter  part  of  1770,  leased  a  house 
belonging  to  Joshua  Green,  Mayor  Green's  great  grandfather,  which 
stood  on  Hanover  street,  about  opposite  the  head  of  Elm  street. 
The  site  is  now  occupied  by  the  American  House.  A  letter  writ- 
ten by  George  Green  to  Joshua  Green,  under  date  of  December 
5th,  1770,  says:  "My  mother  has  let  out  the  house  to  one  Dr. 
Warren,  and  boards  with  him,  as  she  did  not  choose  to  move  out 
of  a  place  she  has  been  so  long  used  to.  She  reserves  for  herself 
the  two  front  chambers,  and  keeps  her  maid  and  negro  man." 
Dr.  Warren's  wife  died  in  April,  1773,  leaving  four  young  chil- 
dren, but  he  continued  to  reside  in  Hanover  street  until  he  finally 
left  Boston  to  give  his  whole  and  undivided  attention  to  the  pre- 
paration for  the  coming  struggle.  His  important  relations  to  the 
Provincial  Congress  and  the  Committee  of  Safety,  no  less  than 
prudence  regarding  his  personal  welfare,  demanded  that  he  should 
remove  himself  from  the  domination  of  General  Gage. 


WARRENS    BIRTHPLACE. 

This  house  was  built  in  1720  by  Joseph  Warren,  Gen.  Warren's 
grandfather.  It  was  situated  on  a  farm,  several  acres  in  extent, 
which,  after  his  death,  a  few  years  later,  was  cultivated  carefully 
by  his  son  Joseph.  The  "Warren  Eusset"  apple  was  a  well 
known  variety  of  fruit  at  that  time.  It  was  used  as  quarters  for 
Col.  David  Brewer's  regiment  in  the  summer  of  1775.  Joseph 
was  killed  by  a  fall  from  one  of  his  apple  trees,  Oct.  23,  1775. 
His  widow,  Mary  Warren,  mother  of  Gen.  Warren,  died  here  at 
the  extreme  age  of  ninety,  in  1803.  It  was  occupied  by  Samuel 
Warren,  a  younger  brother  of  the  General,  until  1805,  when,  at 
his  death,  it  came  into  the  possession  of  Dr.  John  C.  Warren.  In 
1846  the  old  house,  being  in  ruins,  was  pulled  down,  and  a  hand- 
some stone  house  was  built  on  the  site  by  Dr.  Warren,  who  in- 
tended it  as  a  memorial  not  only  of  his  uncle,  the  General,  but  of 
his  father,  John  Warren,  the  first  Professor  of  Anatomy  at  Har- 
vard University.  Dr.  Warren,  dying  in  1856,  bequeathed  the 
estate  to  the  present  owner,  Dr.  J.  Collins  Warren.  This  picture 
is  taken  from  an  engraving  in  his  possession,  made  in  1840,  and 
the  above  description  is  written  by  him. 


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AXTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  261 

WASHINGTON  ELM,  CAMBRIDGE. 

On  the  meeting  of  the  Second  Continental  Congress  in  Philadel- 
phia,  May  10th,  1775,  its  most  important  duty  was  to  appoint  a 
commander-in-chief  of  the  patriot  forces.  It  was  a  task  of  great 
delicacy  and  difficulty.  John  Adams  of  Boston  moved  that  the 
army  then  besieging  Boston  should  be  adopted  by  Congress  as  a 
Continental  army,  and  he  would  propose  for  commander-in-chief 
of  same  a  gentleman  of  Virginia  who  was  there  present.  His  re- 
marks were  so  pointed  that  all  present  percieved  them  to  apply  to 
Colonel  Washington,  who,  upon  hearing  this  reference  to  himself, 
retired  from  his  seat  and  withdrew.  When  the  ballot  was  taken 
it  was  found  that  Colonel  Washington  was  unaniniousty  elected. 
Before  the  election  it  had  been  voted  to  pay  the  General  five  hun- 
dred dollars  a  month  for  his  expenses.  On  this  point  Washington 
said,  "  I  beg  leave  to  assure  Congress  that  no  pecuniary  consider- 
ation could  have  tempted  me  to  accept  this  arduous  employment 
at  the  expense  of  my  domestic  ease  and  happiness.  I  do  not  wish 
to  make  any  profit  from  it.  I  will  keep  an  exact  account  of  my 
expenses.  Those,  I  doubt  not,  you  will  discharge,  and  that  is  all 
I  desire."  This  appointment  was  made  two  days  before  the  battle 
of  Bunker  Hill.  It  then  took  a  week  to  travel  from  Philadelphia 
to  Boston  by  the  quickest  mode.  Washington,  in  company  with 
Generals  Charles  Lee  and  Philip  Schuyler,  hnniediately  set  out  on 
horseback  to  join  the  army  at  Boston.  They  had  scarcely  pro- 
ceeded twenty  miles  before  they  met  a  courier  with  tidings  of  the 
great  battle  that  had  been  fought.  Washington  eagerly  asked  for 
particulars,  and  when  told  that  the  militia  had  stood  their  ground 
bravely,  exclaimed  "The  liberties  of  the  country  are  safe."  Under 
the  ancient  elm  at  Cambridge,  yet  standing,  in  the  presence  of  the 
soldiers  drawn  up  in  line,  and  women  and  children  from  all  parts 
of  the  country,  he  took  formal  command  of  the  army,  July  3, 1775. 

This  majestic  tree  stands  on  Garden  street,  near  the  westerly 
corner  of  the  Common,  and  may  possibly  have  belonged  to  the 
primeval  forest,  and,  if  it  could  speak,  would  be  an  interesting 
chronicler  of  events.  Within  its  shade  the  settlers  erected  their 
rude  log  houses,  and  here  also  was  laid  the  foundation  of  Harvard 
College,  the  first  educational  establishment  in  New  England.  Not 
far  from  it  was  the  spot  where  the  public  town  meetings  were 
held,  and  also  the  tree  under  which  the  Indian  council-fires  were 
lighted  more  than  two  centuries  ago. 


262  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

THE  FORTIFICATIONS  ON  BOSTON  NECK 

In  the  olden  times,  and  for  a  long  number  of  years  after  the 
settlement  of  Boston,  there  was  only  one  carriage  entrance  to  the 
town,  and  that  was  through  Roxbury  and  over  the  Neck.  By  re- 
ferring to  the  Bonner  map,  in  this  work,  it  will  be  observed  that  by 
severing  this  connection  Boston  would  be  an  island.  One  of  the 
first  cares  of  the  early  settlers  was  to  take  precaution  against  In- 
dian attacks.  "  We  began  a  Court  of  Guard,"  says  Wintkrop, 
under  date  of  April  14th,  1631,  "upon  the  Neck  between  Roxbury 
and  Boston,  whereupon  there  should  be  always  resident  an  officer 
and  six  men."  The  gates  of  this  primitive  barrier,  erected  at  the 
narrowest  part  of  the  Neck,  where  Dover  street  now  is,  and  which 
had  disappeared  by  the  end  of  the  century,  were  constantly  guard- 
ed and  were  shut  at  a  certain  hour  in  the  evening,  after  which  none 
were  allowed  to  pass  in  or  out.  In  1710,  fortifications  were  con- 
structed, with  foundations  of  brick  and  stone,  upon  the  site  of  the 
old  ones,  having  a  parapet  of  earth,  with  embrasures  for  cannon 
on  the  front  and  flank  and  a  deep  ditch  on  the  side  next  to  Rox- 
bury. There  were  two  gates,  one  for  carriages  and  one  for  foot 
passengers.  In  Sept.  1774,  affairs  began  to  look  serious  and  Gage, 
the  royal  governor,  proceeded  to  strengthen  the  old  and  to  erect 
new  works  in  advance  of  them,  digging  a  deep  fosse  into  which  the 
tide  flowed  at  high  water  in  front  of  the  former,  severing  Boston 
for  the  time  from  the  main  land.  While  this  work  was  going  on 
the  people,  whose  curiosity  led  them  to  watch  its  progress,  would 
speak  slightingly  of  it  and  say,  "  Gage's  mud  walls  are  nothing  to 
old  Louisburg,  and,  if  necessary,  would  be  no  more  regarded  than 
a  beaver's  dam."  The  recollection  of  that  remarkable  achievement 
caused  them  to  depreciate  this  comparatively  slight  barrier ;  but 
the  skill  of  Montresor,  Gage's  engineer,  soon  made  it  formidable 
enough  to  deter  the  Americans  from  attempting  an  assault,  which 
could  hardly  have  ended  otherwise  than  in  failure.  The  Dover  street 
work  was  called  the  "  Green  Store  Battery."  the  warehouse,  then 
standing  on  the  site  of  the  William's  Market,  being  of  that  color. 
Excavations  just  south  of  the  market,  in  1860,  revealed  the  remains 
of  this  old  fort.  The  position  of  the  advanced  work,  which  was 
much  stronger,  was  between  Dedham  and  Canton  streets,  a  point 
from  which  the  first  unobstructed  view,  in  front,  is  obtained  as  far 
as  Roxbury.  It  mounted  twenty  guns  of  heavy  calibre,  besides 
six  howitzers  and  a  mortar  battery.     The  redan  was  flanked  by  a 


i^a-/  BO  ST  ON  in  NEW  ENGLAND  wHStsEjrrmojrs. 

rtR  RoxBURr  Brookun  CAMBRIDGE  Medpord  CHARXESTOWtf.PirUof  Maiden  andCHELSEA. 
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A  PLAN   OF  BOSTON    IN   NEW   ENGLAND,   WITH   ITS   ENVIRONS. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  265 

bastion  on  each  side  of  the  highway,  from  which  the  lines  were 
continued  across  the  marshes.  The  road  passed  through  the  centre 
of  both  lines,  the  first  having  a  gate  and  drawbridge.  A  third  and 

7  ©  ©  © 

smaller  work,  lying  between  the  others,  on  the  eastern  sea  margin, 
bore  on  Dorchester  Neck  (South  Boston)  and  took  the  left  curtain 
and  bastion  of  the  main  work  in  reverse.  After  the  battles  of 
Lexington  and  Bunker  Hill,  these  works  became  of  great  strata- 
getic  importance,  and  were  the  principal  lines  of  defence  during 
the  siege  of  Boston.     Just  one  month  before  the  siege  began  a 

O  ©  O 

committee  of  the  Provincial  Congress  on  the  present  state  of  the 
operations  of  the  British  army  reported  :  "  That  two  mud  breast- 
works have  been  erected  on  Boston  Neck  at  the  distance  of  about 
90  or  100  rods  in  front  of  the  old  fortifications,  the  works  well 
constructed  and  well  executed.  The  thickness  of  the  merlons  or 
parapet  is  about  9  feet,  the  height  about  5  feet,  the  width  of  the 
ditch  at  the  top  about  12  feet,  at  the  bottom  5  feet,  the  depth  10 
feet.  These  works  are  already  completed  and  at  present  mounted 
with  10  brass  and  2  iron  cannons.  A  barrack  is  erecting  behind 
the  breastwork  on  the  N.  side  of  the  Neck."  "The  old  fortifica- 
tion at  the  entrance  of  the  town  of  Boston  is  repairing  and  greatly 
strengthened  by  the  addition  of  timber  and  earth  to  the  walls  of 
the  thickness  of  about  12  feet.  These  works  are  in  considerable 
forwardness,  and  at  present  10  pieces  of  iron  cannon  are  mounted 
on  the  old  platforms.  A  block-house,  brought  from  Governor's 
Island,  is  erecting  on  the  S.  side  of  the  Neck  at  the  distance  of 
about  40  or  50  rods  from  the  old  fortification.  This  work  is  but 
just  begun." 

A  plan  of  these  works  being  desired  at  headquarters,  John 
Trumbull,  adjutant  of  Spencer's  Connecticut  regiment,  (after- 
wards celebrated  as  an  historical  painter)  undertook  to  obtain  one. 
He  says  :  "I  began  the  attempt  by  creeping,  under  the  conceal- 
ment of  high  grass,  so  nigh  that  I  could  ascertain  that  the  work 
consisted  of  a  curtain  crossing  the  entrance  to  the  town,  flanked  by 
two  bastions,  and  I  ascertained  the  number  of  guns  mounted  on 
the  eastern  bastion,  when  my  further  progress  was  rendered  un- 
necessary by  a  deserter,  who  brought  with  him  a  rude  plan  of  the 
entire  work.  My  drawing  was  also  shown  to  the  General,  and 
their  correspondence  proved  that  as  far  as  I  had  gone  I  was  cor- 
rect." This  probably  is  the  origin  of  the  engraving  here  shown  of 
"A  View  of  the  lines  thrown  up  on  Boston  Neck  by  the  Minis- 


266  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

terial  Army."  The  original  from  which  this  engraving  was  made 
is  a  small  vignette  on  a  map,  called  "  A  Plan  of  Boston  and  its 
environs,  1775.  Dedicated  to  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  President  of 
the  Continential  Congress.  This  map  of  the  Seat  of  the  Civil 
War  in  America  is  Respectfully  inscribed,  By  his  most  Obedient 
and  Humble  Servant.     B.  Romans." 


J7  viewoftheLines  t/irown  u/i  on  BOSTON \KECM by t/ie  Minifteriai '  Jlrrru/. 

1.  Bo/ton.  2,  JfrJfarzcocJiZhoufe.  3,  Ene/rufS  camji  onjfrtfitt.  V.  JJfockMu/e.  &.  GiumVwufe, 
6.Ga£e  §21nu?&rcdffe  /.Beacon/till. 

The  other  two  illustrations,  "  A  Front  View  of  the  Lines,  taken 
from  the  advanced  posts  near  Brown's  House,"  and  a  "  View  of 
the  Country  towards  Dorchester,  taken  from  the  advanced  works 
on  Boston  Neck,"  are  both  reproduced  by  the  Photo-Electrotype 
Process,  from  J.  F.  W.  Des  Barre's  Coast  Charts,  Published  ac- 
cording to  Act  of  Parliament  May  30,  1776,  for  the  use  of  the 
Army  and  Navy  in  North  America,  then  operating  in  and  around 
Boston.  Enoch  Brown's  house  and  shop,  of  which  mention  is 
made  here,  was  situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway,  between 
Blackstone  square  and  Rutland  street,  deserves  mention  as  the 
scene  of  the  only  hostile  encounter  that  has  ever  taken  place  with- 
in the  original  limits  of  Boston.  The  following  letter,  from  the 
American  Camp  at  Roxbury,  informs  us  that  "  on  July  8,  1775, 
two  hundred  volunteers  from  the  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts 
forces,  under  Majors  Tupper  and  Crane,  attacked  the  British  ad- 
vance guard  at  Brown's  house  on  the  Neck  within  three  hundred 
yards  of  their  principal  works.  They  detached  six  men  about  ten 
o'clock  in  the  evening  with  orders  to  cross  on  a  marsh  up  to  the 
rear  of  the  guard-house  and  there  to  watch  an  opportunity  to  fire 
it.  The  remainder  secreted  themselves  in  the  marsh  on  each  side 
of  the  Neck,  about  two  hundred  yards  from  the  house.  Two  brass 
pieces  were  drawn  softly  on  the  marsh  within  three  hundred  yards, 
and  upon  a  signal  from  the  advanced  party  of  six,  two  rounds  of 
cannon  shot  were  fired  through  the  guard-house.  Immediately  the 
regulars,  who  formed  a  guard  of  forty-five  or  fifty  men,  quitted  the 
house  and  were  fired  upon  by  the  musketry,  who  drove  them  with 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  271 

precipitation  into  their  lines.  The  six  men  posted  near  the  house 
set  fire  to  it  and  hurned  it  to  the  ground.  After  this,  they  burnt 
another  house  nearer  the  lines,  and  withdrew  without  losing  a 
man."  An  irregular  warfare  was  kept  up  on  the  Neck  from  the 
17th  of  June  till  Washington  took  command  of  the  army.  A 
band  of  Indians,  from  the  Stockbridge  tribe,  caused  the  British 
considerable  trouble  of  which  they  complained  with  reason  of  this 
mode  of  warfare.  A  British  ofiicer  writes,  July  2,  1775,  "  Never 
had  the  British  army  so  ungenerous  an  enemy  to  oppose ;  they 
send  their  riflemen,  five  or  six  at  a  time,  who  conceal  themselves 
behind  trees,  etc.,  till  an  opportunity  presents  itself  of  taking  a 
shot  at  our  advanced  sentries,  which  done  they  immediately  re- 
treat." On  the  21st  of  June  two  of  the  Indians  killed  four  of  the 
regulars  with  their  bows  and  arrows  and  plundered  them.  On  the 
next  day  the  British  fired  from  their  works  and  threw  shells  into 
Roxbury,  this  continued  for  several  days,  during  which  two  Amer- 
icans were  killed  in  attempting  to  set  Brown's  barn  on  fire,  and  the 
Indians  killed  more  of  the  British  guard.  The  Indians  were  not 
alone  to  blame  in  this  desultory  warfare.  A  large  body  of  South- 
ern riflemen  enlisted  with  great  promptness,  after  the  news  of 
Lexington  and  Bunker  Hill  reached  them ;  they  marched  from  four 
to  six  hundred  miles.  In  a  short  time  large  bodies  arrived  in 
camp,  attracting  much  attention  with  their  picturesque  costumes. 
They  were  dressed  in  white  hunting  shirts,  ornamented  with  a 
fringe;  round  hats,  on  which  appeared  the  motto  "  Liberty  or 
Death ;"  buckskin  breeches,  Indian  moccasins  and  leggins,  also  or- 
namented with  beads  and  brilliantly  dyed  porcupine  quills ;  and 
were  tall,  stout  and  hardy  men,  inured  to  frontier  life.  They  were 
all  armed  with  rifles,  tomahawks  and  long  knives,  the  latter  worn 
in  the  wampum  belt  that  confined  the  hunting  shirt  to  the  waist.  At  a 
review  a  company  of  them,  at  a  quick  advance,  fired  three  balls 
into  objects  seven  inches  in  diameter,  at  two  hundred  and  forty 
yards.  With  them  it  was  a  disgrace  to  shoot  game  anywhere  ex- 
cept in  the  head,  and  they  inspired  such  terror  in  the  British  camp 
that  they  were  there  spoken  of  as  shirt  tail  men,  with  their  cursed 
twisted  guns,  the  most  fatal  widow  and  orphan  makers  in  the  world. 
One  of  them  taken  prisoner  was  carried  to  England  as  a  curiosity. 
After  the  siege,  the  works  on  the  Neck  were  destroyed,  in  order 
that  they  might  not  be  made  available  to  the  enemy  should  he 
again  obtain  possession  of  the  town.  Vestiges  of  them  were  visi- 
ble as  late  as  1822,  particularly  on  the  west  side. 


272  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

PLAN    OF    DORCHESTER    NECK. 

This  plan  was  drawn  for  the  use  of  the  British  army  in  1775, 
and  is  a  copy  of  the  plate  published  in  ' '  Simonds'  History  of  South 
Boston."  It  shows  the  works  erected  there  at  that  time,  by  the 
American  forces,  with  every  house  and  tree  on  the  peninsula.  The 
names  of  the  occupants  of  the  houses  were  added  by  an  aged 
member  of  the  Blake  family,  who  was  born  in  1776.  On  the  22d 
of  Dec.  1775,  Congress  authorized  Gen.  Washington  to  attack  the 
British  troops  in  Boston,  notwithstanding  the  town  and  property 
in  it  might  be  destroyed.  Washington  accordingly  made  active 
preperations  for  erecting  redoubts  on  Dorchester  Neck,  a  place 
which  had  long  been  considered  as  the  most  convenient  point  from 
which  to  dislodge  the  enemy.  Washington  was  certain  that  the 
taking  possession  of  Dorchester  Heights  would  bring  on  a  battle, 
and  he  intended  to  attack  Boston  at  the  same  time  on  the  Cam- 
bridge side.  Four  thousand  chosen  men  were  selected  to  attack 
Boston  as  soon  as  the  attention  of  the  British  should  be  attracted 
to  Dorchester  Heights. 

On  Monday  night,  March  4th,  1776,  at  about  seven  o'clock,  two 
thousand  men,  under  Gen.  Thomas,  marched  across  the  causeway 
to  Dorchester  Heights.  A  covering  party  led  the  way,  then  followed 
the  carts  with  entrenching  tools,  then  twelve  hundred  soldiers 
under  Gen.  Thomas,  and  in  the  rear  followed  three  hundred  carts 
loaded  with  fascines  and  hay.  The  occasion  was  one  of  intense 
interest  and  excitement.  The  greatest  silence  was  observed,  no  one 
being  allowed  to  speak  above  a  whisper.  All  exerted  themselves  to 
the  utmost,  and  as  by  magic  before  daylight  two  forts  of  sufficient 
strength  to  be  a  good  defence  against  grape  shot  and  small  arms 
were  finished,  and  as  the  morning  sun  shone  there  was  revealed  to 
the  British  two  fortifications  that  had  no  existence  the  evening 
before,  and  which  had  completely  brought  them  into  the  power  of 
their  enemies.  It  was  immediately  decided  by  the  Admiral  of  the 
British  fleet  that  unless  they  were  dislodged  the  vessels  stationed 
in  the  harbor  could  not  ride  in  safety,  and  it  was  also  evident  that 
the  troops  in  Boston  were  now  in  a  precarious  situation.  There 
were  but  two  alternatives  :  either  the  town  must  be  evacuated,  or 
the  Americans  driven  from  the  Heights.  Gen.  Howe  could  not 
for  a  moment  think  of  quietly  yielding  the  possession  of  the  town, 
whose  inhabitants  had  been  the  original  cause  of  the  war.  Rely- 
ing on  the  superior  strength  of  his  army,  he  immediately  decided 


plan  of  Dorchester  Neck. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  275 

to  attack  the  entrenchments.  lie  ordered  twenty-four  hundred 
men,  under  the  command  of  Earl  Percy,  to  repair  to  Castle  William, 
and  at  night  to  assail  the  new  works.  Thousands  assembled  upon 
the  neighboring  hills  to  see  repeated  the  scenes  of  Bunker  Hill. 
The  American  works  were  now  very  strong.  A  large  number  of 
barrels  filled  with  stones  and  sand  were  placed  on  the  brow  of  the 
hill  to  be  rolled  down  as  the  columns  advanced.  At  12  o'clock, 
March  5th,  the  troops  embarked  for  the  Castle,  but  a  violent  gale 
arose  which  prevented  them  from  reaching  their  destination. 
During  the  night  and  the  following  day  the  storm  continued,  and 
the  rain  poured  in  torrents.  The  wind  was  so  boisterous  and  the 
surf  so  great  that  it  would  have  proved  fatal  to  have  attempted  to 
land.  In  the  meantime  the  Americans  had  greatly  strengthened 
their  works,  and  Gen.  Howe  felt  that  the  fortifications  were  too 
strong  to  be  assaulted,  and  concluded  to  evacuate  the  town  rather 
than  to  have  his  army  cut  to  pieces.  Gen.  Howe  threatened  that 
if  his  troops  were  molested  while  leaving  the  harbor  he  would  fire 
the  town,  and  although  there  was  no  express  negotiation,  yet  there 
was  a  tacit  understanding  that  the  British  were  to  leave  the  harbor 
unmolested. 

On  the  ninth  of  March,  Washington  erected  batteries  on  Leak 
and  Bird's  Hill,  another  at  the  Point  and  at  Nook's  Hill.  This 
latter,  from  its  proximity  to  the  town,  was  of  great  importance, 
and  Washington  decided  to  fortify  it,  with  a  view  of  bringing  the 
British  completely  under  his  power,  and  with  the  purpose  of 
annoying  the  fleet  if  necessary.  The  British  observing  these 
operations  opened  a  severe  fire  on  Nook's  Hill  from  their  battery 
located  on  what  is  now  Dover  street.  Four  soldiers  and  a  surgeon 
were  killed,  and  the  troops  were  compelled  to  suspend  operations. 
Gen.  Howe  caused  all  the  public  stores  that  could  not  be  taken 
away  to  be  destroyed.  Several  sloops  were  sunk,  and  many  can- 
non spiked.  Early  in  the  morning  of  March  17,  Gen.  Howe 
commenced  the  embarkation  of  his  army.  At  nine  o'clock  a  large 
number  of  troops  and  inhabitants  left  the  wharves  of  Boston,  which 
was  observed  ha  the  American  camp.  Gen.  Ward,  with  five  hun- 
dred men,  immediately  marched  over  the  Neck  into  the  town  just 
as  the  last  remnant  of  the  British  army  and  loyalists  dropped  down 
the  harbor.  With  drums  beating  and  flags  flying,  the  victorious 
troops  marched  triumphantly  through  the  streets,  greeted  on  all 
sides  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  with  the  greatest  joy. 


276  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

BOSTON  LIGHT-HOUSE. 

Early  in  the  last  century  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  agitated  the 
subject  of  erecting  a  light-house  at  the  entrance  to  their  hai'bor, 
in  consequence  of  the  growth  of  their  commerce.  Accordingly, 
in  1715,  an  act  was  passed  to  "  build  a  light-house  on  the  southern- 
most point  of  the  Great  Brewsters,  called  Beacon  Island,  because 
there  had  been  a  great  discouragement  to  navigation  by  the  loss  of 
the  lives  and  estates  of  several  of  His  Majesties  subjects,  and  that 
after  the  building  of  the  light-house  and  kindling  a  light  in  it,  to 
be  kept  from  sun  setting  to  sun  rising,  that  an  impost  shall  be  paid 
by  the  masters  of  all  Ships  and  Vessels,  coming  in  and  going  out 
of  the  harbor,  except  Coasters,  the  duty  of  One  Penny  per  Ton, 
inwards,  and  One  Penny  per  Ton,  outwards,  before  they  Load  or 
Unload  the  Goods  therein." 

The  first  light-house  keeper  was  George  Worthylake,  a  man 
familiar  with  every  island  in  the  harbor  from  childhood,  having 
been  brought  up  on  the  island  where  Port  Warren  now  stands.  At 
the  time  he  became  keeper  of  the  light  he  had  a  farm  on  Lovell's 
Island,  where  he  resided.  He  was  paid  fifty  pounds  for  his  service 
the  first  year,  which  amount  was  increased  to  seventy  the  second 
year,  in  consequence  of  the  loss  of  fifty-nine  sheep  which  were 
drowned  in  the  winter  of  1716,  through  want  of  his  care  during 
enforced  absences  in  attending  the  light.  Mr.  Worthylake  was 
unfortunately  drowned,  together  with  his  wife  Ann  and  their  daugh- 
ter Ruth,  off  Noddle's  Island,  now  East  Boston,  while  on  their 
way  to  town,  and  their  remains  now  rest  in  Copp's  Hill  Cemetery. 
This  incident  was  the  orign  of  the  ballad  called  the  ' '  Light-house 
Tragedy,"  which  Franklin  says  he  was  induced  by  his  brother  to 
write,  print,  and  sell  about  the  streets,  and  which  he  said  "  sold 
prodigiously  though  it  was  wretched  stuff." 

The  old  light-house  was  much  injured  by  fire  in  1751,  and  was 
struck  by  lightning  several  times.  During  the  revolution  it  was 
demolished  and  rebuilt  by  both  the  American  and  British  forces, 
as  the  occasion  arose  to  serve  their  ends  thereby,  as  the  following 
account  from  Frothingham's  Siege  of  Boston  will  show  : — 

A  party  under  Maj.  Vose  of  Heath's  regiment,  in  whale  boats, 
landed  on  Nantasket  Point,  before  day,  and  set  fire  to  the  light- 
house. At  daylight  the  men-of-war  discovered  them  and  fired 
upon  them.     An  eye-witness  says  :     "I  ascended  an  eminence  at 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  279 

a  distance,  and  saw  the  flames  of  the  light-house  ascending  up  to 
heaven  like  grateful  incense,  and  the  ships  wasting  their  powder. 
He  also  brought  from  Nantasket  a  thousand  bushels  of  barley  and 
a  quantity  of  hay.  An  armed  schooner  and  several  barges  engaged 
the  detachment,  and  wounded  two  of  the  Americans.  Maj.  Vose 
gained  much  credit  for  his  success  in  this  enterprise.  The  enemy 
commenced  rebuilding  the  light-house,  and  July  31st,  1775,  Maj. 
Tupper,  with  three  hundred  men,  was  detached  with  orders  to 
disperse  the  working  party.  The  enemy  prepared  to  receive  the 
Americans  in  a  hostile  manner.  Maj.  Tupper  landed  in  good  order 
on  the  island,  marched  up  to  the  works,  killed  ten  or  twelve  on  the 
spot,  and  took  the  remainder  prisoners.  Having  demolished  the 
works,  the  party  were  ready  to  embark,  but  the  tide  leaving  them, 
they  were  obliged  to  remain  until  its  return.  Meantime,  a  number 
of  boats  came  up  from  the  men-of-war,  to  reinforce  those  at  the 
island,  and  a  smart  firing  from  both  parties  took  place.  A  field 
piece,  under  Maj.  Crane,  planted  on  Nantasket  Point  to  cover  a 
retreat,  sunk  one  of  the  boats,  and  killed  several  of  the  crew. 
Maj.  Tupper  brought  his  party  off  with  the  loss  of  only  one  man 
killed  and  two  or  three  wounded.  He  killed  and  captured  fifty- 
three  of  the  enemy.  "Washington  the  next  day,  in  general  orders, 
thanked  Maj .  Tupper,  and  the  officers  and  soldiers  under  his  com- 
mand, "  for  their  gallant  and  soldier-like  behavior."  June  13th, 
1776,  the  British  fleet  evacuated  the  harbor,  and  as  they  passed 
the  light-house  they  sent  their  boats  ashore  and  brought  off  a  party 
of  regulars,  and  blew  up  the  light-house  with  powder,  then  the 
whole  fleet  made  all  sail  they  could  and  went  to  sea,  steering  their 
course  for  Halifax.  This  island  was,  therefore,  the  last  spot  occu- 
pied by  a  hostile  force  in  Boston  Harbor.  The  present  light-house 
was  erected  in  1783,  but  has  been  refitted  since  then  with  improved 
apparatus.  In  1860  the  old  tower  was  raised  and  now  measures 
ninety-eight  feet  above  the  sea  level.  Its  revolving  light  can  be 
seen  at  a  distance  of  sixteen  nautical  miles. 

The  view  in  mezzotint  of  the  first  light-house  built  in  America 
is  from  a  mezzotint  in  the  possession  of  the  Light-house  Board, 
Treasury  Department,  Washington.  It  was  engraved  by  W. 
Burgis,  who  engraved  a  map  of  Boston,  in  1729. 

The  line  engraving  represents  the  second  Boston  light-house, 
and  is  reproduced  from  the  "  Massachusetts  Magazine  "  for  1789. 


280 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


BIRTHPLACE  OF    GENERAL  KNOX. 

The  parents  of  Knox  were  Scotch  emigrants  and  came  to  Boston 
with  the  party  that  founded  the  Federal  Street  Church.  The 
father  of  Knox  was  married  in  this  church  by  Rev.  Mr.  Moorhead 
to  Mary,  daughter  of  Robert  Campbell,  Feb.  11,  1735  (O.  S.) 
He  was  a  ship  master  and  the  owner  of  a  wharf  and  a  small  estate 
on  Sea  street.  Henry,  the  seventh  of  ten  sons,  was  born  in  this 
house,  which  was  demolished  last  year  (1881)  on  account  of  the 
extension  of  Essex  street  to  Federal  street,  the  street  passing  over 


BIRTHPLACE  OF  GENERAL  KNOX. 

the  site  occupied  by  the  house.  Our  engraving  is  copied  from  an 
old  drawing  and  shows  the  house  as  it  appeared  in  1756.  The  cut 
was  loaned  to  us  through  the  kindness  of  A.  Williams  &  Co.,  of 
the  "  Old  Corner  Book  Store."  Knox  was  present  at  the  so  called 
State  Street  Massacre,  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  demon- 
strations during  the  troublous  times  when  the  gathering  storm  of 
the  Revolution  loomed  dark  and  threatening  in  the  sky.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-one  Knox  began  business  on  his  own  account,  and 
we  are  informed  by  the  "  Gazette  "  of  July  29,  1771,  that :  "  Thie 
day  is  opened  a  new  London  Bookstore  by  Henry  Knox,  opposite 
Williams'  Court,  in  Cornhill,  Boston."     Knox's  store  was  a  great 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  281 

resort  for  British  officers  and  Tory  ladies,  who  were  the  ton  at  that 
period.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  Knox  joined  the  "Boston  Gren- 
adier Corps."  The  splendid  uniform,  military  appearance,  drill  and 
efficiency  of  this  corps  gave  it  high  renown  and  elicited  the  warm 
encomiums  even  of  the  British  officers.  By  earnest  study  of  mil- 
itary authors  and  by  careful  observation  of  the  soldiery  in  Boston, 
he  soon  attained  great  proficiency  in  the  theory  and  practice  of  the 
military  art.  Lieutenant  Knox  was  an  uncommonly  good-looking 
officer,  and  while  on  parade  attracted  the  attention  of  a  young  lady 
which  soon  ripened  into  mutual  love  and  esteem,  and  resulted  in 
a  true  and  happy  union.  Her  father,  Thomas  Flucker,  Esq.,  a 
"  high-toned  loyalist  of  great  family  pretensions,"  and  Secretary 
of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  was  exceedingly  averse  to 
the  match,  as  were,  indeed,  all  of  the  young  lady's  aristocratic 
connections,  who  were  loyalists.  The  marriage  was  announced  in 
the  "  Gazette  "  of  June  20, 1774.  The  young  couple  at  once  went 
to  housekeeping,  but  their  domestic  enjoyment  was  rudely  inter- 
rupted by  the  events  of  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  and  just  one  year 
from  the  day  of  his  marriage  Knox  quitted  Boston  in  disguise, 
(his  departure  being  interdicted  by  Gage)  accompanied  by  his 
wife,  who  had  quilted  into  the  lining  of  her  cloak  the  sword  with 
which  her  husband  was  to  carve  out  a  successful  military  career. 
Large  promises  had  been  held  out  to  Knox  to  induce  him  to  follow 
the  royal  standard,  as  it  was  thought  to  be  of  consequence  to  pre- 
vent so  talented  a  young  man  from  attaching  himself  to  the  pro- 
vincials. Repairing  at  once  to  the  headquarters  of  Gen.  Ward  at 
Cambridge,  he  was  actively  engaged  on  reconnoirtering  service  on 
the  memorable  17th  of  June,  and  upon  his  reports  the  general's 
orders  were  issued.  After  the  battle,  he  lent  his  aid  in  planning 
and  constructing  works  of  defence  for  the  various  camps  around 
the  beleagured  town.  His  greatest  service  perhaps,  was  the  bring- 
ing of  more  than  fifty  cannon,  mortars  and  howitzers  from  Ticon- 
deroga,  Crown  Point,  etc.,  to  the  lines  before  Boston.  This  feat 
was  accomplished  early  in  1776,  the  ordinance  being  dragged  on 
sledges  in  midwinter  through  the  wilderness.  Gen.  Knox  rendered 
his  country  services  of  the  utmost  importance  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  and  it  was  greatly  due  to  Knox's  skill  and  activity  in 
providing  and  forwarding  heavy  cannon  for  the  siege  of  Yorktown, 
that  compelled  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  which  led  to  a  termina- 
tion of  the  contest.  On  March  4,  1785,  Knox  was  elected  Secre- 
tary of  War.    He  died  Oct.  15, 1806,  after  an  illness  of  a  few  days. 


282  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

WASHINGTON  TRIUMPHAL  ARCH  AND  COLONNADE. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  third  visit  of  Washington  to  Boston  he 
was  given  a  grand  public  reception,  October  24,  1789.  A 
triumphal  arch  and  colonnade  were  erected  on  Washington  street 
in  front  of  the  Old  State  House,  and  from  the  latter  he  reviewed 
the  passing  throng  by  whom  he  was  enthusiasticly  welcomed  and 
who  in  turn  were  gracefully  saluted  by  him. 

The  Triumphal  Arch  was  designed  by  Mr.  Charles  Bulfinch  and 
the  Colonnade  by  Hon.  Mr.  Dawes.  The  arch  was  18  feet  high, 
composed  of  a  central  arch  14  feet  wide,  and  one  on  each  side  of 
7  feet,  with  an  ionic  pilaster  and  proper  imposts  between  them. 
The  frieze  exhibited  thirteen  stars  on  a  blue  ground  and  a  hand- 
some white  cornice  was  carried  to  the  height  of  the  platform ; 
above  was  painted  a  balustrade  of  interlaced  work,  in  the  centre 
of  which  was  an  oval  tablet  with  the  following  inscriptions,  on 
one  side,  "To  the  Man  who  Unites  all  Hearts,"  and  on  the  other, 
"To  Columbia's  Favorite  Son."  At  the  end  of  the  State  House 
was  a  panel  decorated  with  a  trophy,  composed  of  the  arms  of  the 
United  States,  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  and  our 
French  Allies,  crowned  with  a  laurel  wreath ;  over  these  an  inscrip- 
tion "  Boston  Believed  March  17,  1776."  Over  the  centre  arch,  a 
rich  canopy  of  20  feet  in  height  was  erected,  with  the  American 
Eagle  perched  above. 

The  Colonnade  was  erected  at  the  west  end  of  the  State  House, 
as  shown  at  the  right  of  our  engraving.  It  was  composed  of  six 
large  columns,  fifteen  feet  high,  and  a  balustrade  hung  in  front 
with  Persian  carpets,  on  which  were  wrought  thirteen  roses.  The 
circle  of  the  Colonnade  measured  forty-four  feet,  and  projected 
boldly  into  the  main  street,  so  as  to  exhibit  in  a  strong  light  ' '  the 
man  of  the  people."  Through  the  central  west  window  of  the 
State  House,  the  President  passed  to  the  balustrade,  descending 
from  a  platform  four  easy  steps  to  the  floor  of  the  gallery,  which 
was  furnished  with  arm  chairs  and  spread  with  rich  carpets. 

On  this  platform  was  a  pedestal,  covered  with  green,  supporting 
the  figure  of  "Plenty."  As  soon  as  the  President  entered  the 
Colonnade  he  was  saluted  with  cheers,  after  which  an  Ode  was 
sung  by  a  select  body  of  singers  seated  under  the  canopy  on  the 
arch.  Our  engraving  was  reproduced  from  the  Mass.  Magazine 
for  January,  1790,  and  the  order  of  "Procession"  from  a  copy  in 
the  Public  Library. 


> 

w 

X 

z 

Q 

O 

z 


r 
> 
o 


Procession. 


Bostcw,    Oct.-   19;   1789. 

AS  this  town  is  shortly  to  be  honoured  with  a  visit  from  the  PRESIDENT  of  the  United  States: 
In  order  that  we  may  pay  tmr  respects  to  him,  in  a  manner  whereby  every  inhabitant  may  see  so 
illustrious  and  amiable  a  character,  and  to  prevent  the  disorder  and  danger  which  must  ensue  from 
a  great  assembly  of  people  without  order,  a  Committee  appointed  by  a  respectable  number  of  in- 
habitants, met  for  the  purpose,  recommend  to  their  Fellow-Citizens  to  arrange  themselves  in  the  following  or- 
der, in  a 


c 


I 


It  is  also  recommended,  that  the  person  who  shall  be  chosen  as  head  of  each  order  of  Artizans,  Trades- 
men, Manufacturers,  &,c.  shall  be  known  by  displaying  a  WHITE  FLAG,  with  some  device  thereon  expres- 
sive of  their  several  callings,  and  to  be  numbered  as  in  the  arrangement  that  follows,  which  is  alphabetically  dis- 
posed, in  order  to  give  general  satisfaction. — The  Artizans,  &c.  to  display  such  insignia  of  their  craft,  as  they 
can  conveniently  carry  in  their  hands.  That  uniformity  may  not  be  wanting,  it  is  desired  that  the  several 
Flag-staffs  be  SEVEN  feet  long,  and  the  Flags  a  yard  square. 

OKDEK  OF  PROCESSION 

Goldsmiths  and  Jewellers,  -         -         • 

Hair-Dressers, 
Hatters  and  Furriers, 
House  Carpenters,         - 
Leather  Dressers,  and  Leather  Breeches  ) 
Maker?,  J 

Limners  and  Portrait  Painters. 
Masons,  ■---.■ 
Mast-makers,  - 

Mathematical  Tnstrument-maKers, 
Millers,  ~ 

Painters,         - 
Paper  Stainejv, 
Pewterers,  - 

Printers,  fiook.binders  and  Stationers, 
Riggers, 

Rope-makers,  .... 

Saddlers.  - 

Sail-makers,  - 

Shipwrights,  to  include  Caulkers,  Ship-joiners,  j 
Head-builders  and  Sawyers,  ( 

bugar-boilers, 

Tallow-Chandlers,  &c.         - 
Tanners.  "• 

Taylors,.  « 

Tin-plate  Workers,  ... 

Tobacconists,  - 

Truckmen,  . 

Turners,,         -  -  ••         * 

Upholsterers,  - 

Wharfingers,  - 

Wheelwrights, 
Seamen, 

N.  B.— la  the  above  arrangement,  some  trades  are  omitted — from  the  idea,  that  they  would  incorporate  themselves  with  the  branches 
mentioned,  to  which  they  are  generally  attached.  For  instance — it  is  supposed,  that  under  thevhead  of  Blaclcsmithst  the  Armourers,  Cutlers, 
"Whitesmiths  and  other  workers  in  iron,  would  be  included  ;  and  the  same  with  respect  to  other  trades. 

JEach  division  of  the  above  arrangement  *9  requested  to  meet  on  such  parade  as  it  may  agree  on,  and  marcb  into  the  Mall — No.  1  of  the 
irtizans,  &-c.  forming  at.  the  South-end  thereof.  The  Marshalls  will  then  direct  in  what  manner  the  Procession  will  move  to  meet  the 
President  on  his  arrival  in,  town.  When  the  front  of  the  Procession  arrives  at  the  extremity  of  the  town,  it  will  halt,  and  the  whole  will 
then  be-directed  to  open  the  column— one  half  of  each  rank  moving  to  the  right,  and  the  other  half  to  the  left — and  then  face  inwards,  so  a* 
to  form  an  avenue  through  which  the  President  is  to  pass,  to  the  galeries  to  be  erected  at  the  State-House. 

Itjs  requested  that  the  several  School-masters  conduct  their  Scholars  to  the  neighbourhood  of  the  State-Housej  and  form  them  in  such 
order  as  the  Marshalls  shall  direct. 
Thi  Marine  Society  is  desired  te  appoint  some  person  to  arrange  and  accompany  the  seameH. 


MUSICK. 

The  Selectmen, 

Overseers  of  the  foot- 

Town  Treasurer, 

Town  Clerk, 

Magistrates, 

Consuls  of  France  and  Holland, 

The  Officers  of  his  Most-Christian  Majesty's 

Squadron, 

The  Rev.  Clergy, 

Physicians, 

Lawyers, 

Merchants  and  Traders, 

Marine  Society, 

Masters  of  Vessels, 

Revenue  'Officers, 

Strangers,  who  may  wish  to  attend. 

Bakers,                   .... 

No.  1. 

Blacksmiths,  &c.         - 

No.  2. 

Block-makers,'        .... 

No'.  3. 

Boat-builders,             ... 

No.  4. 

Cabinet  and  Chair-makers, 

No.  5. 

Card-makers,          .... 

No.  6. 

Carvers,             .... 

No.  r. 

Chaise  and  Coach-makers, 

No.  8. 

Clock  and  Watch-makers, 

No.  9. 

Coopers.               .... 

No.  10. 

Coppersmiths,  Braziers  and  Founders, 

No.  11. 

Cordwainers,  &c. 

-    No.  12. 

Distillers,            .... 

No.  13. 

Duck  Manufacturers, 

No.  14. 

Engravers, 

No.  15. 

Glaziers  and  Plumbers, 

No,  16. 

No. 

17. 

No. 

IB. 

No. 

19. 

No. 

20. 

No. 

1 

21. 

No. 

22. 

No. 

23. 

No. 

24. 

No. 

25. 

No. 

26. 

No. 

27. 

No. 

28» 

No. 

29. 

No. 

30. 

No. 

31. 

No. 

32. 

No, 

33. 

No. 

34, 

No. 

35. 

No. 

36. 

No. 

37. 

No, 

38. 

No. 

39. 

No. 

40. 

No. 

41. 

No 

42. 

No, 

43. 

No 

44. 

No 

45. 

No 

46. 

Corner  of  Washington,  Winter  and  Summer  Sts. 


Cjlkctum.  <.■£&  ^Pi  vsp  eehs-. 


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SudKircke  der  Tresb'derumer  zu  Bcutoix.  1    o£ud  ^es  Irej 


wnri&i   a 


.glide  on 

OJtCJl . 


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ut?ao£ntT*a  on  >-s*e*fi>fa  aTTnufi 


&,  kAs^Jvmu-  J'tTmrm  Jcr^rfr  Z6a,-e<w  «***  :2W»&«,   &  So.  ^tvest* JrnfcruzL,    <*  a*ee  Se/Uss  »  J'tn-JZin,  nr. Ja  ***£■«  Ic*  C^u . 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  293 

VIEW   OF   THE    CORNER   OF   WINTER,   WASHINGTON    AND 
SUMMER   STREETS. 

This  view  is  reproduced  from  a  painting  in  the  possession  of 
Dr.  Robert  Willard,  and  was  made  about  1840.  It  shows  what 
great  changes  have  taken  place  in  this  locality  within  the  past  few 
years.  It  is  now  the  centre  of  the  retail  dry  goods  trade.  Many  of 
the  finest  stores  in  Boston  are  located  in  this  vicinity,  and  in  no 
section  of  the  city  has  real  estate  advanced  more  rapidly.  Our 
view  shows  Winter  street  in  the  foreground,  crossed  by  Washing- 
ton street,  across  which  is  seen  Summer  street  and  Trinity  Church. 

VUE   DE   BOSTON. 

' '  Prospect  of  the  great  street  opposite  the  old  South  Church  of 
the  Presbyterians  at  Boston."  This  is  the  translation  of  the  in- 
scription on  this  print,  which  is  one  of  a  series  of  American  views 
published  at  Angusbourg,  Bavaria,  at  about  the  time  of  the 
American  Revolution.  A  complete  set  of  these  views  are  in  the 
Boston  Public  Library.  This  view  is  intended  to  represent  a  scene 
on  what  is  now  Washington  street  opposite  the  Old  South  Church. 
It  is  purely  a  work  of  the  imagination  as  can  be  readily  seen  by 
the  architecture  of  the  buildings  which  is  that  of  the  style  in  vogue 
in  European  cities  at  that  period,  there  being  at  that  time  no  such 
buildings  in  Boston.  Neither  was  there  such  a  wide,  straight 
thoroughfare  in  the  town  at  that  time.  The  only  portion  of  the 
view  that  relates  to  America  in  the  least  degree,  is  that  of  the 
Indian  with  the  bow  which  the  artist  has  incorporated  into  his 
sketch.  We  have  reproduced  this  view,  not  on  account  of  any 
intrinsic  value  it  may  possess,  but  to  show  the  conception  the 
people  of  Europe  had  of  America  at  that  period.  The  size  of  the 
original  views  are  15^x12  inches. 

TREMONT    AND    BOYLSTON    STREETS    IN    1800. 

We  have  reproduced  these  views  from  the  original  drawing  in 
the  City  Hall,  Boston.  The  only  building  that  we  recognize  on 
the  sketch  as  now  standing  is  the  King's  Chapel. 


294  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

FIEST    CHURCH. 

This  was  the  first  meeting-house  built  in  Boston,  the  situation 
chosen  for  it  was  on  the  south  side  of  State  street,  where  Brazer's 
Building  now  stands.  The  society  is  older  than  Boston  itself,  for 
it  was  formed  in  Charlestown  July  30,  1630,  and  removed  to  what 
is  now  Boston,  in  August,  1632. 

The  building  is  said  to  have  had  mud  walls  and  a  thatched  roof, 
which  is  about  all  the  description  we  have  concerning  it.  Our 
view  of  it  is  reproduced  from  a  small  work  entitled  the  ' '  Boston 
Revival,"  published  in  1842,  and  is  drawn  from  such  descriptions 
and  intimations  as  could  be  gathered  from  the  early  writers. 

The  society  continued  to  worship  in  this  rude  structure  until 
1640,  when  the  growth  of  population  compelled  them  to  erect  a 
larger  edifice.  After  some  discussion  they  decided  to  build  upon 
the  site  of  what  is  now  Rogers  Building,  lately  Joys  Building,  an 
engraving  and  description  of  which  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this 
work.  The  second  meeting  house  was  destroyed  by  fire  October 
2,  1711,  and  the  third,  or  Old  Brick,  as  it  was  afterwards  called, 
erected  on  the  same  spot,  and  first  occupied  May  3,  1713.  The 
cut  that  we  present  here  of  the  Old  Brick  was  reproduced  by  the 
Photo-Electrotype  Company,  from  the  Polyanthus  Magazine.  The 
old  clock  seen  on  the  front  of  the  church  was  the  first,  without 
doubt,  placed  in  any  public  position  in  the  town.  The  bell  of  the 
Old  Brick  sounded  the  alarm  on  the  evening  of  the  Boston  massa- 
cre of  March  5th,  1770. 

Shortly  after  the  siege  of  Boston,  Gen.  Washington,  with  all  his 
staff  and  numerous  state  dignitaries,  attended  the  service  in  the 
Old  Brick.  Afterwards,  so  the  newspaper  of  the  day  says,  '•  they 
adjourned  to  the  Bunch  of  Grapes  Tavern"  to  refresh  the  body. 

In  1808  the  society  removed  to  Chauncj'  Place,  where  they  re- 
mained until  1868.  when  the  present  beautiful  structure  on  the 
corner  of  Berkely  and  Marlborough  streets  was  completed. 

November  9,  1881,  the  church  celebrated  the  250th  anniversary 
of  its  foundation.  A  memorial  volume  containing  a  full  account 
of  the  interesting  exercises  on  that  occasion,  with  the  speeches  de- 
livered and  four  historical  sermons,  three  of  them  by  the  pastor 
and  one  by  the  late  Dr.  Frothingham,  has  recently  been  published. 

The  information  contained  in  this  article  was  kindly  contributed 
by  the  son  of  the  present  pastor,  Mr.  A.  B.  Ellis. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  299 

king's  chapel. 

The  Episcopalians  became  permanently  established  in  Boston  in 
1686.  There  were  Episcopalians,  such  as  Blackstone  and  others, 
seated  at  Shawmut  and  its  neighborhood  earlier  than  any  other 
sects.  They  were,  however,  forced  out  of  the  country,  aad  it 
was  not  until  1664,  when  the  Commissioners  landed  in  Boston  and 
demanded,  in  the  king's  name,  that  liberty  should  be  given,  to  all 
who  should  desire  it,  to  use  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  that  the 
church  service  was  performed  in  Boston  without  molestation. 
Even  then,  though  protected  by  the  King's  Commissioner's,  who 
had  a  Chaplain  of  that  faith  with  them,  no  permanent  footing  was 
established,  nor  was  there  any  church  edifice  for  persons  of  that 
sect  in  the  town.  On  the  return  of  Mr.  Randolph,  one  of  the 
King's  Commissioners,  to  Boston,  there  came  with  him  Mr.  Bobert 
Ratcliff,  an  Episcopal  clergyman.  The  old  government  being  the 
next  day  superseded,  all  persons  residing  in  Boston  friendly  to 
the  English  church  came  forward,  and  thus  a  society  of  Episco- 
palians had  its  beginning  in  Boston. 

At  first  their  meetings  were  held  in  private  houses.  At  length 
application  was  made  to  the  officers  of  the  South  church  to  be 
allowed  to  hold  their  meetings  in  the  meeting-house  of  that  society, 
proposing  to  accommodate  their  time  of  worship  to  the  other 
society.  This  was  anything  but  agreeable  to  the  South  society. 
Finding  that  such  a  privilege  was  not  likely  to  be  allowed,  a  com- 
mittee waited  on  the  Council,  who  granted  them  the  use  of  "  the 
east  end  of  ye  Town-house,  where  ye  Deputies  used  to  meet, 
until  those  who  desire  his  ministry  (Mr.  Ratcliff )  shall  provide  a 
fitter  place."  Hence  it  appears  that  the  first  regular  meeting- 
place  of  the  Episcopal  society  in  Boston  was  in  the  Town-house. 

Such  was  the  state  of  affairs  of  the  Episcopalians  on  the  arrival 
of  the  frigate  Kingfisher,  December  20,  1686,  which  brought  over 
Sir  Edmund  Andros,  the  first  royal  governor,  who,  the  next  day 
after  his  arrival,  applied  for  one  of  the  meeting-houses  in  which 
to  perform  religious  services.  A  committee  waited  on  his  excel- 
lency to  remonstrate,  but  it  availed  nothing,  for  in  the  following 
March  Gov.  Andros  sent  a  demand  for  the  key  of  the  South 
church,  "  that  they  may  say  prayers  there,"  and  two  days  later, 
March  25,  the  Episcopalians  performed  their  services  in  the  South 
church,  and  continued  to  occupy  it  till  Andros  was  deposed,  in 


300  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON 

1689.  Before  that  event  occurred,  contributions  were  collected 
throughout  the  country  to  the  amount  of  £256,  contributed  by 
ninety-six  individuals,  and  a  house  was  built  at  a  cost  of  £284. 
How  the  society  obtained  the  land  on  which  the  church  was  built 
has  not  been  discovered,  but  it  is  not  at  all  improbable  that  it  was 
taken  by  Gov.  Andros  out  of  the  common  burial-place  which  was 
given  to  the  town  by  Mr.  Isaac  Johnson.  It  was  of  wood,  and 
stood  upon  part  of  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  present 
edifice,  at  the  north-east  corner  of  Tremont  and  School  streets. 
Our  drawing  of  it  was  made  from  a  south-east  view  of  Boston, 
published  by  ffm,  Price  in  1720.     It  gives  also  a  good  view  of 


THE   FIRST  KING'S   CHAPEL. 


Beacon  Hill  with  the  beacon  on  top  of  it.  There  were  no  pews 
in  the  church  up  to  1693.  In  that  year  the  officers  of  Sir  Francis 
Wheeler's  fleet,  which  put  into  Boston  to  recruit,  made  up  a  dona- 
tion for  the  church  amounting  to  fifty-six  pounds.     The  next  year 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  303 

the  pews  were  built  at  an  expense  of  eighty-five  pounds  In  1689 
it  was  provided  with  a  bell.  Between  1710  and  1713  the  old 
church  was  rebuilt  and  enlarged  to  twice  its  original  size.  Mr. 
Thomas  Brattle  gave  an  organ  when  it  was  finished.  This,  no 
doubt,  was  the  first  organ  in  Boston.  A  clock  was  given  in  1744. 
No  account  of  the  dedication  of  the  first  church  has  been  found, 
but  the  first  meeting  in  it  is  fixed  upon  June  50,  1687.  The 
The  second  building  stood  until  April  2,  1753,  when  it  was  taken 
down,  and  the  corner  stone  of  the  present  building  was  laid  by 
Governor  Shirley.  The  building  was  completed  and  opened  for 
divine  service  August  21,  1754.  It  cost  to  build  £7405  sterling. 
It  has  not  since  undergone  any  essential  alteration  in  its  exterior 
appearance.  Our  engraving  of  it  is  as  it  appears  at  the  time  of 
writing,  1882. 

At  the  time  of  the  Eevolutionary  war,  in  1776,  the  society  was 
broken  up  ;  many  of  its  important  supporters  were  loyalists,  who 
fled  from  Boston,  and  with  them  their  minister,  Rev.  Dr.  Caner. 
In  retaliation  for  what  had  been  done  by  Andros,  and  later  by  the 
king's  troops  in  using  the  South  meeting-house  for  a  riding-school, 
the  King's  Chapel  was  taken  possession  of  by  that  society  and 
occupied  by  them  for  a  period  of  nearly  five  years,  when  it  was 
again  occupied  by  the  Episcopal  society,  and  its  name  changed  to 
Stone  Chapel,  in  conformity  with  other  changes  which  grew  out 
of  a  hatred  to  kingly  authority.  On  the  accession  of  Queen  Ann 
it  was  called  by  some  Queen's  Chapel.  It  is  now  generally  known 
by  its  old  name  of  King's  Chapel.  In  1785,  the  society,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  doctrinal  changes  of  its  own  minister,  adopted  a 
modified  form  of  the  English  liturgy  in  place  of  the  original,  ex- 
cluding all  acknowledgement  of  the  Trinity,  and  thus  Unitarian- 
ism,  as  it  was  at  length  called,  became  a  substantial  reality  in 
Boston.  This  society  for  many  years  remained  the  only  one  of 
any  note  in  New  England  which  was  confessedly  Unitarian. 


304  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

FEDERAL  STREET  CHURCH. 

In  1720,  and  for  several  years  following,  many  Scotch  Presby 
terians  came  to  New  England.  Among  them  was  Archibald  Stark, 
the  father  of  General  John  Stark,  a  graduate  of  the  University  of 
Glasgow.  The  vessel  on  which  he  came  contained  many  cases  of 
small  pox,  and  the  party  was  not  allowed,  on  that  account,  to  land 
in  Boston.  They  then  went  to  Sheepscott,  Maine,  and  afterwards 
settled  at  a  place  in  New  Hampshire  they  called  "  Londonderry," 
because  many  of  them  had  lived  in  and  about  Londonderry  in  Ire- 
land for  sometime  previous  to  their  leaving  that  country,  with 
which  they  were  not  pleased.  A  large  number  of  these  Scotch 
Presbyterians,  at  the  head  of  whom  was  the  Rev.  John  Moorhead, 
settled  in  Boston,  and  although  they  were  a  good  acquisition  to 
this  place,  being  industrious  and  orderly,  and  in  time  introduced 
several  arts  and  improvements  among  the  people,  yet  they  at  first 
met  with  a  cold  reception,  being  viewed  as  inferiors  and  intruders. 

These  emigrants  purchased  a  lot  of  ground  at  the  corner  of 
Berry  street  and  Long  Lane,  and  converted  a  barn  which  stood  on 
the  ground  into  a  meeting-house.  This  was  in  1729,  and  this 
humble  edifice  served  them  for  a  place  of  worship  until  1744  ;  al- 
though, in  the  mean  time,  two  small  additions  in  the  shape  of 
wings  were  added  to  it.  In  the  year  last  mentioned,  a  substantial 
and  convenient  church  was  built,  after  the  fashion  of  the  churches 
of  that  time  (as  represented  by  the  engraving  annexed),  and  with 
that  old  church  there  is  much  of  interest  associated.  It  was  with- 
in its  walls  that  delegates  met  in  convention  to  decide  whether 
Massachusetts  should  accept  the  Federal  Constitution  proposed 
for  the  United  States  ;  and  it  was  here  that  it  was  finally  accepted, 
on  the  seventh  of  February,  1788.  It  was  owing  to  this  circum- 
stance that  the  name  of  Long  Lane  was  changed  to  that  of  Federal 
street. 

The  old  or  second  house  was  of  wood,  the  tower  fronting  on 
Federal  street.  This  was  succeeded  by  a  Gothic  structure,  which 
was  completed,  on  the  site  of  the  old  one,  in  the  course  of  1809. 


FEDERAL  STREET  CHURCH. 


ANTIQUE  VIEW'S  OF  BOSTON.  307 

The  Rev.  Daniel  Annan  was  the  next  Pastor  after  Mr.  Moorhead. 
He  was  installed  in  1783,  and  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request, 
by  the  Presbytery,  in  1786,  and  was  afterward  settled  over  a  church 
in  Philadelphia.  In  the  period  succeeding  the  death  of  Mr.  Moor- 
head and  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Annan,  occurred  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  during  which  regular  preaching  was  interrupted.  After 
the  evacuation  of  the  town  by  the  British,  in  March,  1776,  the 
Rev.  Andrew  Croswell  was  employed  to  preach  to  the  society.  In 
1787,  Dr.  Jeremy  Belknap  was  installed  over  this  church,  he  hav- 
ing taken  a  dismission  from  a  parish  in  Dover,  New  Hampshire, 
for  that  purpose.  He  was  an  eminent  scholar  and  historian.  Be- 
fore the  settlement  of  this  gentleman,  but  not  at  his  instance,  or 
with  any  view  of  inviting  him  in  particular,  the  society  which  had 
become  reduced  to  a  small  number  had  relinquished  the  Presby- 
terian regimen  and  embraced  the  Congregational  order,  with  a  ten- 
dency  towards  Unitarianism.  Dr.  Belknap  died  suddenly  on  the 
twentieth  of  June,  1798,  aged  fifty-four.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  John  Snelling  Popkin,  D.  D.,  who,  in  1802,  being  appointed 
to  the  Greek  professorship  in  Harvard  college,  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  William  Ellery  Channing,  D.  D.,  who  was  ordained  June 
first,  1803. 

There  was  a  sufficient  depth  of  water  near  the  meeting-house  for 
smelts  to  be  taken.  Shaw  cites  Dr.  Channing  as  saying  he  had 
taken  these  fish  at  the  corner  of  Federal  and  Milk  streets,  and 
another  authority  as  having  seen  three  feet  of  water  in  Federal 
street. 

The  name  of  Beny,  or  Bury  street,  as  it  was  called  in  ancient 
orthography,  was  changed  to  that  of  Channing,  its  present  name, 
in  honor  of  him.  The  Rev.  Ezra  Stiles  Gannett  was  ordained 
there  in  1824,  and  was  killed  in  the  terrible  railroad  accident  at 
Revere,  in  1871.  The  building  erected  in  1809,  which  succeeded 
the  one  shown  in  our  engraving,  was  an  elegant  house,  designed 
by  Charles  Bulfinch,  and  was,  when  built,  the  only  specimen  of 
pure  Gothic  architecture  in  Boston.  In  1859,  it  was  taken  down 
to  give  way  to  the  demands  of  business,  and  the  present  handsome 
structure  on  Arlington  street  was  subsequently  erected  in  its  stead, 
and  is  now  known  as  the  Arlington  Street  Church  (Unitarian) . 
The  present  pastor  is  J.  F.  W.  Ware. 

Our  reproduction  of  the  church  built  in  1744  is  from  the  Poly- 
anthus Magazine  for  October,  1812.  It  is  an  excellent  reproduction 
of  the  original. 


308  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

THE    OLD    SOUTH    CHUECH. 

The  historical  associations  surrounding  the  Old  South,  at  the 
corner  of  Milk  and  Washington  streets,  make  it  one  ot  the  most 
interesting  of  all  the  links  that  remain  to  connect  Boston  of  the 
past  with  Boston  of  the  present.  The  Old  South  society  was  or- 
ganized in  1669,  and  the  "meeting  house"  was  built  soon  after- 
ward on  a  piece  of  land  given  by  the  widow  of  Eev.  John  Norton. 
In  1729  the  original  meeting  house,  which  was  of  wood,  was  taken 
down,  and  the  present  brick  structure  was  built  on  the  same  spot. 

Sir  Edmund  Andros,  on  his  arrival  in  Boston  in  1686,  demanded 
the  keys  of  the  Old  South  and  ordered  that  the  bell  be  rung  ' '  for 
those  of  the  Church  of  England."  This  was  very  galling  to  the 
society,  but  they  were  permitted,  by  a  strange  revolution  of  the 
wheels  of  time,  to  turn  the  tables.  On  the  evacuation  of  Boston 
by  the  British,  the  rector  of  King's  chapel  and  his  congregation 
joined  in  the  hegira.  The  Old  South  had  been  used  as  a  riding 
school  by  General  Burgoyne's  regiment  during  their  possession  of 
Boston  and  it  was  in  such  a  condition  that  the  society  decided  to 
worship  in  King's  chapel,  which  they  did  in  the  autumn  of  1777, 
continuing  to  worship  there  for  five  years. 

Judge  Samuel  Sewall,  Chief  Justice  of  the  Colony,  who  was 
one  of  the  judges  during  the  witchcraft  trials  of  1692,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Old  South.  He  afterward  arose  in  the  church  and  ex- 
pressed deep  contrition  for  his  share  in  the  wretched  business. 

Here  Lovell,  Warren,  Church  and  Hancock  delivered  their  ora- 
tions on  the  anniversary  of  the  State  Street  Massacre.  Benjamin 
Franklin  was  baptised  in  the  old  wooden  church  and  there  wor- 
shiped. The  famous  tea  party  meeting  adjoui'ned  from  Faneuil 
Hall  to  the  Old  South,  the  former  being  too  small  to  accommodate 
the  assemblage. 

Washington  stood  in  the  gallery  of  this  church  alter  the  evacua- 
tion and  looked  down  upon  the  ruin  wrought  by  the  riding  school. 
The  old  building  had  two  narrow  escapes  from  fire.  Many  years 
ago  it  was  saved  by  the  superhuman  efforts  on  the  part  of  Isaac 
Harris,  the  mast-maker,  who  ascended  to  the  roof  while  it  was  on 
fire  and  succeeded  in  extinguishing  the  flames  Eor  this  brave  act 
he  received  a  silver  pitcher.  During  the  great  fire  of  November 
9  and  10,  1872,  that  reduced  the  greater  portion  of  the  business 
section  of  the  city  to  ashes,  it  had  another  very  narrow  escape. 


OLD    SOUTH    CHURCH. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  311 

The  fire  was  fought  resolutely  at  this  spot  and  the  Old  South  stop- 
ped its  further  progress  in  that  direction.  The  building  caught  in 
several  places,  but  the  fire  was  extinguished  before  doing  much 
harm  to  it. 

The  Old  South  society  arose  from  a  schism  in  the  First  Church, 
and,  like  it,  originated  in  Charlestown.  Directly  over  the  main 
entrance  a  tablet  bearing  the  following  inscription  was  placed  in 
1867: 

Old  South. 
Church  Gathered,  1669. 
First  House  Euilt,  1670. 
This  House  Erected,  1729. 
Desecrated  by  British  Troops,  1775-6. 

Again,  within  five  years  after  this  tablet  was  placed  there  the 
wheels  of  time  turned  the  tables  and  the  Old  South  was  desecrated 
(that  is,  if  this  term  is  not  a  misnomer,  for  the  place  was  never 
consecrated,)  and  this  too  by  the  consent  of  the  society  that  wor- 
shiped there,  who  had  been  seeking  for  an  opportunity  of  dis- 
posing of  the  old  edifice  without  offending  public  sentiment,  and 
I  luilding  a  modern  church  in  the  more  fashonable  neighborhood  of 
the  Back  Bay  district.  This  opportunity  arrived  after  the  great 
fire  of  1872,  when  the  society  leased  it  to  the  government  to  be 
used  for  a  post  office,  and  as  was  to  be  expected,  after  it  ceased  to 
be  used  for  that  purpose  the  building  and  land  were  sold,  the  build- 
ing to  be  torn  down  immediately.  Work  was  commenced  on  its 
destruction.  The  clock,  that  thousands  of  eyes  had  looked  up  to 
every  day  for  so  many  years  past,  was  removed.  The  public  was 
aroused  ;  meetings  were  held  for  its  preservation  ;  the  people  were 
addressed  by  the  leading  citizens  of  Boston.  The  danger  to  the 
old  building  was  greater  than  it  ever  had  been  from  the  British  or 
the  two  fires  from  which  it  escaped  destruction.  A  society  of  ladies 
was  organized  for  its  preservation.  They  have  since  occupied  it  as 
a  museum  of  Revolutionary  antiquities,  and  it  is  open  daily  to  the 
public  on  payment  of  a  small  admission  fee.  It  is  a  question,  how- 
ever, whether  funds  enough  can  be  raised  to  save  this  historic 
monument  of  the  past,  for  it  is  encumbered  with  a  heav}r  mortgage 
and  the  land  is  very  valuable  for  business  purposes.  Our  engrav- 
ing was  reproduced  from  Gleason's  Pictorial  of  1853,  the  first 
illustrated  paper  published  in  this  country. 


312  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

CHRIST  CHURCH,  SALEM  STREET. 

This  was  the  second  Episcopal  Church  erected  in  Boston  and  is 
the  oldest  in  the  City  standing  on  its  original  ground,  having  been 
erected  in  1723,  six  years  before  the  Old  South.  It  is  a  brick  edi- 
fice and  has  long  been  known  as  the  "  North  End  Church"  and  in  its 
day  was  considered  one  of  the  chief  architectural  ornaments  of 
the  North  End.  The  old  steeple  was  blown  down  in  the  great 
gale  of  1804,  falling  upon  an  old  wooden  building  at  the  corner  of 
Tileston  Street,  through  which  it  crashed  to  the  consternation  of 
the  tenants,  who,  however,  escaped  injury.  The  steeple  was  re- 
placed from  a  design  by  Charles  Bulfinch  which  carefully  preserved 
the  proportions  of  the  original.  The  height  of  the  steeple  is  175 
feet,  and  the  aggregate  weight  of  the  chime  of  eight  bells  in  it 
7,272  pounds  ;  the  smallest  weighing  620  pounds,  and  the  largest 
1,545.     These  bells  bear  the  following  inscriptions  : — 

First  bell :  ' '  This  peal  of  8  Bells  is  the  gift  of  a  number  of 
generous  persons  to  Christ  Church,  in  Boston,  N.  E.,  anno  1744, 
A.  E."  Second:  "  This  church  was  founded  in  the  year  1723. 
Timothy  Cutler,  D.  D.,  the  first  rector,  A.  E.,  1744."  Third: 
' '  We  are  the  first  ring  of  Bells  cast  for  the  British  Empire  in 
North  America,  A.  E.,  1744."  Fourth:  '-God  preserve  the 
Church  of  England,  1744."  Fifth  :  "  William  Shirley,  Esq.,  Gov- 
ernor of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England,  anno  1744." 
Sixth :  ' '  The  subscription  for  these  Bells  was  begun  by  John 
Hammock  and  Eobert  Temple,  church  wardens,  anno  1743;  com- 
pleted by  Eobert  Jenkins  and  John  Gould,  church  wardens,  anno 
1744."  Seventh:  "Since  Generosity  hath  opened  our  mouths, 
our  tongues  shall  ring  aloud  its  praise  1744."  Eighth:  Abel 
Eudhall,  of  Gloucester,  cast  us  all,  anno  1744.  This  chime  brought 
from  England,  is  the  oldest  in  America. 

The  Bible,  prayer  books  and  silver  now  in  use  were  given  in 
1733,  by  King  George  II.  The  figures  of  Cherubim  in  front  of 
the  organ,  and  the  chandeliers,  were  taken  from  a  French  vessel  by 
the  privateer  "  Queen  of  Hungary,"  and  presented  to  the  church 
in  1746.  The  Sunday  school  was  established  in  1815,  when  no 
other  was  known  to  exist.  The  interior  of  the  church  retains 
much  of  its  antique  appearence.     A  tablet  was  placed  on  the 


&BGBAYKD  fQA  TI&  MtTQB.1    Of  SOjroM 


CHRIST    CHURCH. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  315 

front  of  the  church  in  1878,  bearing  the  following  inscription : 

The  Signal  Lanterns  of 
t  Paul   Revere 
Displayed  in  the  steeple  of  this  church 

April   1775 

Warned  the  country  of  the  march 

of  the   British  troops  to 

Lexington  and  Concoid. 

General  Gage,  it  is  said,  witnessed  from  Christ  Church  steeple 
the  burning  of  Charlestown  and  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 

Interments  were  made  under  the  Church  soon  after  its  erection. 
It  is  related  that  Major  Pitcairn,  of  the  British  Marines,  who  led 
the  troops  to  Concord  and  was  repulsed,  and  who  afterwards  fell 
mortally  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  was  taken  after 
the  last  named  battle  to  a  house  in  Prince  Street,  where  the  gas- 
ometer now  stands,  and  after  death  was  temporarily  deposited 
under  Christ  Church,  and  afterwards  carried  to  England  for  burial. 
During  the  seige  of  Boston,  in  the  war  of  the  revolution,  it  was 
frequently  used  for  the  burial  of  British  officers.  About  fifty  years 
ago  a  body  was  exhumed  in  the  north-east  corner  of  the  cemetery, 
curiously  preserved  by  embalming,  and  with  it  were  found  ever- 
greens. This  body  had  then  laid  there  eighty  or  more  years ;  and 
was  originally  encased  in  two  caskets,  each  covered  with  coarse 
linen  cloth  impregnated  with  a  protective  gum.  Mr.  Thomas, 
whose  remains  were  thus  discovered,  had  died  in  Bermuda  and 
been  brought  here  for  burial.  With  the  exception  of  the  thirty- 
three  tombs  and  the  heating  apparatus  of  the  church,  nothing  is  to 
be  seen  within  this  enclosure,  made  sacred  by  the  burial  of  many 
of  the  worthy  old  residents  of  the  north-end. 

Our    engraving  was    reproduced   by   the    Photo-Electrotvpe 
Engraving  process  from  a  cut  in  Shaw's  History  of  Boston  1817 . 


316  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

NEW  SOUTH  CHURCH. CHURCH  GREEN. 

The  name  of  Church  Green  was  applied  very  early  to  the  vacant 
space  lying  at  the  junction  of  Bedford  and  Summer  streets, 
from  which  we  may  infer  that  it  was  looked  upon  as  a  proper  site 
tor  a  meeting-house  by  the  earliest  settlers  of  Boston.  The  land 
was  granted  by  the  town  to  a  number  of  petitioners  in  1715. 
Samuel  Adams,  father  of  the  patriot,  was  one.  There  was  not  a 
more  beautiful  site  for  a  church  in  Boston.  The  ground  was  high 
and  level,  the  old  church  having  an  unobstructed  outlook  over  the 
harbor.  Samuel  Checkley  was  the  first  pastor,  ordained  in  1718. 
Our  engraving  represents  the  church  as  rebuilt  in  1814.  The 
originators  of  the  movement  for  the  new  church  held  their  first 
meeting  at  the  Old  Bull  Tavern,  at  the  corner  of  Summer  and  Sea 
streets.  The  building  was  of  granite  from  the  Chelmsford  quar- 
ries, near  the  Merrimac  River,  and  was  brought  through  the  Mid- 
dlesex Canal.  The  body  of  the  building  was  in  shape  of  an  octa- 
gon, forming  a  square  of  seventy-six  feet  in  diameter,  four  sides 
being  forty-seven  feet,  and  four  smaller  twenty  feet  each.  The 
height  was  thirty-four  feet.  The  porch  was  of  the  same  extent  as 
one  of  the  sides,  and  advanced  sixteen  feet,  in  front  of  which  was 
a  portico  of  four  fluted  columns  of  Grecian  doric.  The  portico 
was  crowned  with  a  pediment,  surrounded  by  plain  attic.  A  tower 
rose  from  the  centre  of  the  attic,  which  included  the  belfry.  The 
entire  height  was  one  hundred  and  ninety  feet,  including  the  spire. 

The  architect  was  Charles  Bulfinch  who  planned  many  buildings 
in  Boston,  and  was  also  employed  by  President  Monroe  in  super- 
intending the  erection  of  the  public  buildings  at  Washington.  In 
1868  it  was  demolished,  and  the  temples  of  traffic  have  arisen  in 
its  stead. 

Fifty  years  gone  by,  Summer  street  was,  beyond  doubt,  the 
most  beautiful  avenue  in  Boston.  Magnificent  trees  then  skirted 
its  entire  length,  overarching  the  driveway  with  interlacing 
branches,  so  that  you  walked  or  rode  as  within  a  grove,  in  a  light 
softened  by  the  leafy  screen,  and  over  the  shadows  of  the  big  elms 
lying  across  the  pavement.  The  palaces  of  trade  now  rear  their 
splendid  fronts  where  stood  the  gardens  or  mansions  of  the  old 
merchants  or  statesmen  of  Boston.  Our  engraving  was  reproduced 
from  the  American  Magazine,  July,  1835,  by  the  Photo-Electro- 
type Process,  and  is  considered  a  very  fine  view  of  the  structure 
before  its  demolition. 


NEW   SOUTH    CHURCH. 


TRINITY    CHURCH. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


321 


TRINITY    CHUHCH. 

The  first  building,  which  occupied  nearly  the  same  site  as  the 
second,  was  consecrated  in  1735.  It  was  of  wood,  and  its  exter- 
nal appearance  had  little  the  resemblance  of  a  place  of  worship, 
being  without  portico,  belfry,  or  the  smallest  external  ornament. 
Its  size  and  materials  made  it  an  object  of  dread  for  a  long  period 
of  time  to  not  a  few  of  the  inhabitants,  in  contemplation  of  its  des- 
truction by  fire.  It  may  be  considered  as  almost  miraculous  that, 
standing  in  the  midst  of  a  populous  city,  it  should  have  escaped 
for  nearly  a  century  the  ravages  of  the  devouring  element,  and  at 


OLD  TRINITY  CHURCH. 

length  should  be  taken  down  by  the  same  means  by  which  it  was 
erected,  and  for  placing  in  its  room  a  building  in  every  point  its 
contrast  This  second  building  was  built  of  rough  blocks  of  granite, 
and  was  considered  to  be  one  of  the  most  substantial  and  best 
fire-proof  buildings  in  the  country,  and  yet  it  was  swept  away,  as 
it  were,  in  an  instant,  in  the  great  fire  of  Nov.  9th,  1872.  The 
reader  by  referring  to  the  accompanying  prints,  which  were  re- 
produced from  the  American  Magazine  for  September,  1834,  will 


322  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

have  a  correct  idea  of  both  buildings.  Notwithstanding;  the  mean 
external  appearance  of  the  old  church,  it  was  the  most  highly 
ornamented  one  in  the  interior  of  any  in  the  country.  The  build- 
ing was  ninety  feet  long  and  sixty  broad.  There  were  three  en- 
trances in  front  unprotected  by  porches.  The  interior  was  com- 
posed of  an  arch  resting  upon  Corinthian  pillars  with  handsomely 
carved  gilded  capitals.  In  the  chancel  were  some  paintings,  con- 
sidered very  beautiful  in  their  day.  The  corner  stone  was  laid 
by  the  Rev.  Roger  Price  of  King's  Chapel,  April  15,  1734.  In 
1740,  Eev.  Addington  Davenport,  assistant  minister  of  King's 
Chapel,  was  chosen  the  first  minister.  In  1741,  Peter  Faneuil 
offered  £100  towards  buying  an  organ.  In  1742,  Gov.  Shirley 
presented  the  church  with  communion  plate,  table  cloths  and 
books.  An  organ  was  procured  in  1744.  When  General  Wash- 
ington visited  Boston  in  1789,  he  went  to  hear  Doctor  (afterwards 
Bishop)  Parker  preach  in  Trinity  church.  In  1828,  it  was  voted 
to  take  down  the  old  building  and  erect  a  new  stone  church.  The 
corner  stone  was  laid  with  appropriate  ceremonies  by  the  rector, 
Eev.  John  S.  J.  Gardner,  November  11,  1829.  Trinity  church 
occupied  the  site  of  the  old  Pleiades  or  "  Seven-Star  Inn,"  on  the 
west  corner  of  Summer  and  Hawley  streets.  From  this  noted 
inn  Summer  street  took  its  ancient  name  of  Seven-Star  Lane. 
After  the  second  church  was  burnt  in  the  great  fire  of  1872,  a 
new  building  was  erected  at  the  junction  of  Huntington  Ave- 
nue, Boylston  and  Clarendon  streets.  It  is  the  finest  church  edi- 
fice in  New  England,  if  not  in  the  United  States. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  325 

HOLLIS  STREET  CHURCH. 

The  Unitarians  in  1788,  from  designs  furnished  by  Charles 
Bulfinch,  erected  the  old  "  Hollis  Street  Church,"  as  it  was  long 
and  familarly  known. 

The  original  name  of  Hollis  street  was  Harvard.  Street  and 
church  were  named  for  Thomas  Hollis,  an  eminent  London  Mer- 
chant, and  benefactor  of  Harvard  College.  The  growth  of  this 
part  of  Boston,  by  1730-  called  for  a  place  of  worship  nearer  than 
Summer  Street.  Governor  Belcher  who  resided  in  that  vicinity, 
gave  the  site,  and  a  small  wooden  meeting  house,  thirty  by  forty 
feet,  was  erected  in  1732.  The  first  minister  was  Rev.  Mather 
Byles,  who  had  a  great  local  reputation  as  a  punster.  A  nephew 
of  Thos.  Hollis  gave  the  church  a  bell  weighing  800  pounds,  and 
it  began  the  joyful  peal  on  the  morning  of  the  19th.  of  May,  1766, 
as  nearest  Liberty  Tree,  and  was  answered  by  Christ  Church  from 
the  other  extremity  of  the  town,  announcing  the  Stamp  Act  Re- 
peal. The  steeples  were  hung  with  flags,  and  Liberty  Tree  dec- 
orated with  banners. 

The  following  humorous  allusion  to  Dr.  Byles,  is  copied  from 
a  poem  of  thirty-seven  stanzas,  descriptive  of  the  Boston  clergy 
published  about  1774. 

"  There's  punning  Byles  provokes  our  smiles, 
A  man  of  stately  parts  ; 
Who  visits  folks  to  crack  his  jokes, 
That  never  mend  their  hearts. 

"  With  strutting  gait  and  wig  so  great 
He  walks  along  the  streets, 
And  throws  out  wit,  or  what's  like  it, 
To  every  one  he  meets  " 

The  church  was  destroyed  by  the  great  fire  of  1787,  but  the 
society  nothing  daunted,  reared  the  wooden  edifice  of  which  we 
present  an  engraving;  reproduced  by  the  Photo-Electrotype 
process,  from  the  Massachusetts  Magazine  for  1793. 

It  was  a  frame  edifice  72  by  60  feet  and  was  surmounted  by 
towers.  In  1810  it  was  removed,  to  give  place  to  the  present 
structure,  and  was  floated  on  a  raft  down  the  harbor  to  East 
Braintree,  where  Rev.  Jonas  Perkins  preached  in  it  forty-seven 
years.  It  is  now  used  as  a  school  house  and  both  steeples  have 
been  removed. 


326  ANTIQUE   VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

BRATTLE  STREET  CHURCH. 

The  first  movement  that  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  Brattle 
Street  Church,  occurred  in  1697,  when  Thomas  Brattle  gave  the 
land,  on  which  the  church  was  afterwards  built,  to  Thomas  Clark 
and  others,  for  this  purpose.  It  was  built  of  wood  and  was  finished 
in  1699.  It  had  a  tower  and  bell  on  the  west  end.  The  door  was 
on  the  south  side  of  the  church,  opposite  which  was  the  pulpit, 
which  contained  an  hour  glass  enclosed  in  a  glass  frame.  It  was 
known  at  that  time  as  the  "  Manifesto  Church,"  in  consequence  of 
a  declaration  of  principles  by  it,  in  answer  to  a  protest  from  the 
older  churches  against  its  more  liberal  form  of  worship.  This 
building  was  rebuilt  of  brick  in  1773.  Our  engraving;  of  it  was 
reproduced  from  "  Gleason's  Pictorial  "of  1854,  and  represents 
the  building  as  it  appeared  at  the  time  of  its  demolition  in  1872. 
The  first  movement  towards  the  erection  of  this  structure  was  by 
John  Hancock,  in  the  year  1772,  who  was  ever  a  liberal  member 
and  benefactor  of  this  society.  The  house  cost  £8000  of  which 
Hancock  gave  one-eighth  part.  Bowdoin  gave  £200,  and  offered 
to  the  society  a  piece  of  land  on  the  corner  of  Tremont  and  Har- 
vard streets,  a  beautiful  spot,  on  which  to  erect  the  house,  which 
offer  it  is  thought  the  parish  unwisely  rejected.  Hancock  also  gave 
a  bell,  on  which  was  inscribed 

"  I  to  the  Church  the  living  call 
And  to  the  grave  summon  all." 

This  was  the  church  of  Colman,  the  Coopers,  Thatcher,  Buck- 
minster,  Edward  Everett,  Palfrey  and  Lothrop,  an  array  of  cleri- 
cal talent  unsurpassed  in  the  Boston  pulpit.  General  Gage  quar- 
tered the  29th  in  the  church  and  vicinity,  taking  up  his  own  quar- 
ters in  the  house  opposite.  Gage  told  Mr.  Turell  that  he  had  no 
fears  for  his  men  while  quartered  within  such  walls.  Nevertheless, 
the  night  before  the  evacuation  a  twenty-four  pound  shot  from 
Cambridge  struck  the  tower,  and  falling  to  the  ground  was  picked 
up  by  Mr.  Turell,  and  in  1824  was  imbeded  in  the  masonry,  where 
it  remained  until  the  work  of  demolition  began.  When  the  soci- 
ety sold  the  church  they  reserved  the  ancient  quoins,  pulpit,  bell 
and  cannon  ball. 


BRATTLE  STREET  CHURCH. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  329 

FEDERAL  STEEET  CATHEDRAL   (ROMAN  CATHOLIC)  . 

Under  the  strict  rule  of  the  Puritans,  Catholics  were  prohibited 
from  entering  the  colony  under  pain  of  death.  If  a  Jesuit,  how- 
ever, should  be  shipwrecked  on  these  shores,  in  such  a  case  he 
would  not  be  hung.  This  law  was  made  in  1647.  Even  under 
these  oppressive  laws,  the  Jesuit  priests  entered  New  England, 
from  Canada,  and  established  missions  among  the  Indians  on  the 
Kennebeck  and  Penobscot  rivers.  The  most  prominent  among 
these  early  missionaries  was  Sebastian  Rale.  The  reverence  of  the 
French  and  Indians  for  him  occasioned  the  bitter  hatred  of  the 
Puritans,  and  a  reward  was  offered  for  his  head.  Captain  Hilton 
was  sent  against  him  at  Noridgewock  and  the  village  reduced  to  a 
heap  of  ruins.  Again,  in  1724,  the  village  was  attacked  and  de- 
stroyed during  the  absence  of  the  braves,  and  the  heroic  missionary 
was  riddled  with  small  shot  and  hacked  to  pieces.  The  war  of 
1745,  which  desolated  what  is  now  Maine,  New  Brunswick  and 
Nova  Scotia,  gave  a  death  blow  to  the  Catholic  establishments  in 
Maine.  During  this  war  a  hundred  pounds  was  offered  for  the 
scalp  of  any  male  Indian  over  twelve  years  of  age,  and  fifty  pounds 
for  the  scalp  of  any  woman  or  child.  This  nearly  exterminated 
the  Indians,  and  what  few  were  left  sought  shelter  in  Canada. 
The  missions  of  Maine  thus  became  deserted,  and  the  fall  of  Quebec 
seemed  to  forebode  still  greater  difficulties  and  danger. 

It  was  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  after  the  settlement  of 
Boston  before  any  Catholic  immigrants  voluntarily  came  here. 
About  1650,  and  for  some  years  after,  many  Irish  Catholics  were 
sent  to  Boston  and  sold  to  any  of  the  inhabitants  who  were  in 
want  of  slaves.  These  were  probably  the  first  Catholics  in  Bos- 
ton. In  1756,  Colonel  Winslow  and  Captain  Malley  of  New  Eng- 
land, by  order  of  the  government,  ruthlessly  tore  away  from  their 
homes  fifteen  thousand  Arcadians  or  French  inhabitants  of  Nova 
Scotia,  ailer  burning  their  villages  and  farm  houses  and  plundering 
them  of  everything.  Many  of  these  people  were  left  in  Boston 
and  other  parts  of  New  England,  and  were  reduced  to  a  state  of 
slavery.  As  the  penal  laws  deprived  these  Catholics  of  all  relig- 
ious instruction,  their  children  grew  up  Protestants.  With  the 
Revolution,  however,  a  change  came.  Washington  had  scarcely 
appeared  in  the  camp  at  Boston,  when  he  found  preparations  on 
foot  for  burning  the  Pope  in  effigy.     He  informed  the  people  ' '  That 


330 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


he  had  been  appraised  of  a  design  of  observing  that  foolish  a  ad 
childish  custom,  and  expressed  his  surprise  that  there  should  be 
officers  and  soldiers  in  the  army  so  void  of  common  sense  as  not  to 
see  the  impropriety  of  such  a  step  at  such  a  juncture,  when  we  are 
soliciting  and  seeking  the  friendship  and  alliance  of  the  people  of 
Canada  and  France ;  and'under  such  circumstances  to  be  insulting 
their  religion  is  monstrous." 

When  the  Revolutionary  war  terminated,  there  were  in  Boston 
a  few  Frenchmen  and  Spaniards  and  about  thirty  Irishmen,  among 
whom  a  clergyman,  who  had  been  a  chaplain  in  the  French  navy, 
resolved  to  settle.     They  assembled  for  worship  in  what  was  form- 


FRANKLIN  STREET  CATHEDRAL. 

erly  the  French  Protestant  church  on  School  street,  erected  by  the 
Huguenots,  many  of  whom  came  to  Boston  in  1686,  after  the  re- 
vocation of  the  Edict  of  Nantes  and  the  Massacre  of  St.  Bartholo- 
mew. Few  of  those  that  established  this  church  could  have 
thought  that  a  branch  of  that  power,  from  which  they  had  fled 
their  native  land  upon  pain  of  death,  would  so  soon  nourish  on  a 
spot  which  they  had  chosen  for  a  place  of  refuge.  Mass  was  per- 
formed in  it  for  the  first  time  on  Nov.  2,  1788.  In  1799,  as  the 
lease  of  this  structure  had  nearly  expired  and  their  numbers  had 
greatly  increased,  it  was  decided  to  purchase  a  site  and  erect  a 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  331 

church.  The  Protestants  generously  contributed  to  build  this 
edifice,  which  their  fathers  would  not  have  tolerated  for  a  moment. 
It  was  built  on  Franklin  street,  on  the  site  of  what  is  now  known 
as  Cathedral  Building,  and  was  dedicated  September  29,  1803,  and 
called  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Cross.  This  was  the  first  Catholic 
church  erected  in  Boston.  In  1810,  Boston  was  erected  into  an 
Episcopal  See.  In  1827,  the  Cathedral  was  enlarged  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  the  congregation  and  school,  which  had  greatly 
increased.  Our  engraving  shows  it  as  it  appeared  after  these  im- 
provements. It  was  reproduced  from  a  work  entitled  "  Sketches 
of  the  establishment  of  the  Church  in  New  England,"  and  is  a  cor- 
rect view  of  it  as  it  appeared  before  its  destruction  in  1860,  which 
was  occasioned  by  the  greatly  enhanced  value  of  the  land  and  the 
movement  of  population  to  other  parts  of  the  city.  A  massive 
and  lofty  temple  now  rears  its  huge  bulk  on  the  Neck,  mainly 
founded  on  the  price  of  the  Franklin  street  Cathedral. 

SHIP  BUILDING   IN  SOUTH    BOSTON  IN  1820  ,    VIEW  FROM  LEEK 

HILL. 

Ship  building  was  commenced  in  South  Boston  about  the  close 
of  the  war  of  1812  by  Messrs.  Lincoln  &  Wheelwright  under  the 
superintendence  of  Mr.  Samuel  Kent,  at  the  foot  of  Leek  Hill,  on 
which  there  formerly  was  a  three  gun  battery.  This  view  is  from 
a  water-color  drawing  in  the  Boston  Museum,  painted  by  J. 
Kidder,  1820. 

Leek  Hill  has  been  long  since  levelled.  The  site  of  the  ship-yard 
is  between  Dorchester  street  and  F  street.  The  building  on  the 
left  was  Mr.  Kent's  residence  and  is  still  standing.  The  factory 
building  near  the  water  front  is  the  first  iron  foundry  built  in  New 
England.  In  the  distance  can  be  seen  Nook  Hill,  where  several 
American  soldiers  were  killed  during  the  siege  of  Boston  from 
cannon  fired  by  the  British  from  Boston  Neck.  Pirates  were 
formerly  executed  here.  Near  the  hill  is  Caines'  glass  house,  the 
first  successful  flint  glass  manufactory  in  the  Atlantic  States. 


332  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

RUINS  OF   THE  TJRSULINE  CONTENT. 

After  the  establishment  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church  in  Boston, 
the  Ursuline  Sisters  opened  a  convent,  which  at  first  was  a  very 
small  affair,  but  in  1826  they  removed  to  a  place  in  Charlestown, 
which  they  named  "  Mount  Benedict."  It  is  now  a  part  of  Som- 
merville.  This  new,  ornate  and  valuable  educational  establishment, 
which  was  erected  on  the  summit  of  the  mount,  was  reached  by  a 
gradual  ascent  from  the  Boston  side,  and  from  which  a  beautiful 
view  was  obtained  of  the  city,  with  its  State  House  and  dome 
towering  above  all  other  buildings,  and  its  capacious  harbor,  islands, 
fortifications  and  shipping.  Between  lies  Charlestown,  with  the 
tall  obelisk  marking  the  battle  ground  of  Bunker  Hill.  A  little  to 
the  left,  from  the  same  position,  the  towns  of  Chelsea,  Maiden, 
Medford  and  Cambridge,  with  the  verdant  fields  and  highly  culti- 
vated country  lying  between  them.  Then,  toward  the  south,  the 
towns  of  Dorchester,  Roxbury  and  Brobkline,  backed  by  the  beau- 
tiful Blue  Hills.  A  large  garden  tastefully  arranged,  and  beauti- 
ful lawns  shaded  with  select  forest  trees,  through  which  led  ex- 
tended gravel  walks,  surrounded  the  building.  Nothing  could 
equal  the  beauty  of  this  interesting  spot  when  the  buildings  were 
destroyed  by  the  hands  of  a  ruthless  mob,  on  the  11th  of  August, 
1834.  The  excitement  that  led  to  this  outrage  was  owing  to  vague 
reports  of  improper  conduct  in  the  convent,  and  of  the  confine- 
ment of  some  females  by  threats  and  force  when  they  were  desirous 
of  leaving  it.  It  was  confidently  asserted  by  respectable  men  that 
such  was  the  fact.  But  such  a  report  could  afford  no  justification 
to  the  outrage  committed.  The  persons  engaged  in  the  transac- 
tion should  have  been  certain  the  reports  were  well  founded,  and 
even  in  that  case  their  open  violation  of  law  and  authority  could 
not  be  justified,  as  long  as  sufficient  remedy  could  be  obtained  by 
due  course  of  law.  Under  the  influence  of  the  excited  feelings  of 
the  people,  the  convent  was  broken  into  about  midnight,  the  furni- 
ture broken  and  destroyed,  as  well  as  the  fences  adjoining  the  con- 
vent. Before  firing  the  building,  warning  was  giver  (he  inmates 
to  retire,  and  search  was  made  in  the  house  to  see  if  any  remained 
before  the  fire  was  put  to  it.  The  building  was  totally  destroyed, 
only  the  walls  remaining,  as  shown  in  our  engraving,  made  for  the 
American  Magazine,  1834.  Several  persons  were  arrested  as  par- 
ticipants in  this  work  of  destruction,  who  were  tried  and  acquitted, 
as  it  was  impossible  to  obtain  full  and  direct  proof  against  them. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  337 

HOUSE    OF   INDUSTRY   AND   HOUSE   OF   CORRECTION, 
SOUTH   BOSTON. 

No  great  city  like  Boston  is  ever  without  want,  misery  or  crime. 
Grimly  this  trio  stalk  beside  the  silks,  satins  and  broadcloths  of 
the  rich,  making  themselves  known ;  but  the  charity  of  the  world 
is  cold,  and  a  public  provision  for  this  class  has  here,  as  well  as  in 
other  cities,  been  found  necessary. 

The  establishment  of  the  House  of  Correction  was  authorized  by 
a  vote  of  the  town  on  the  7th  of  May,  1821.  It  was  designed  for 
the  restraint  and  employment  of  the  idle  and  vicious  poor,  for 
habitual  drunkards,  beggars  and  those  condemned  for  petty  offences 
in  the  inferior  courts  of  justice. 

The  House  of  Correction,  at  South  Boston,  is  an  elaborate  in- 
stitution, thoroughly  equipped,  and  has  a  steam-engine  of  twenty- 
horse  power  in  its  workshop. 

"The  House  of  Industry  is  destined  for  the  comfort,  support 
and  relief,  and,  as  far  as  they  are  competent,  for  the  employment 
of  the  virtuous  poor,  and  of  those  alone  who  are  reduced  to  seek 
this  refuge  from  misfortune,  or  age,  or  infancy."  This  institution 
is  now  located  at  Deer  Island,  and  the  average  number  of  inmates 
for  the  past  year  has  been  580  ;  the  largest  number  being  681  and 
the  smallest  number  469. 

These  two  buildings  are  of  exactly  the  same  architectural  design, 
are  built  of  coarse  rough  granite,  and  are  respectively  220  feet 
long,  343  feet  wide  and  29  feet  high. 

The  institutions  of  the  city  have  ever  been  regarded  with  just 
pride  by  the  citizens,  and  have  been  the  models  after  which  other 
municipalities  have  reared,  it  may  be,  more  elaborate  and  costly 
institutions,  but  none  that  have  more  fully  and  creditably  fulfilled 
the  mission  for  which  they  have  been  established. 

The  accompanying  engraving,  and  also  the  Alms-house  in  Bos- 
ton, was  reproduced  from  Snow's  History  of  Boston,  and  are  ex- 
cellent reproductions.  The  city  of  Boston  is  faintly  indicated  in 
the  background. 


338  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

ALMS-HOUSES   EN   BOSTON. 

The  first  alms-house  was  erected  on  Beacon  street,  in  1662.  It 
was  burned  in  1682,  measures  being  immediately  taken  to  rebuild 
it.  It  was  a  two  story  brick,  with  a  gable  roof,  fronting  on  Bea- 
con street,  and  was  of  an  L  shape.  It  was  not  found  adequate  to 
fill  the  demands  put  upon  it  for  a  prison  and  a  home  for  the  poor, 
aged  or  infirm,  and  in  1712  measures  were  taken  to  build  a  Bride- 
well. This  was  erected  in  Park  street,  in  what  year  does  not  ap- 
pear, but  it  is  shown  on  the  map  of  1722.  The  alms-house  be- 
came, in  lapse  of  years,  totally  inadequate  to  its  purpose,  but  no 
remedy  was  applied  to  these  evils  until  1801,  when  the  building, 
of  which  we  here  present  an  engraving,  was  erected  on  Leverett 
street.  During  the  Revolutionary  war  the  inmates  frequently  suf- 
fered for  the  necessaries  of  life,  and  appear  at  all  times  to  have 
largely  depended  on  the  charity  of  the  townspeople.  The  alms- 
house was  occupied  by  British  wounded  after  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill.  It  was  erected  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  from  which  a  wharf, 
now  forming  the  site  of  the  old  Lowell  depot,  extends. 

The  new  alms-house,  as  it  was  called,  was  a  brick  building  of 
three  stories,  with  a  central  structure  from  which  wings  extended. 
The  central  building  was  considerably  higher  than  the  rest,  and 
had  lofty,  arched  windows,  with  a  raised  pediment  relieved  by  or- 
namental work;  on  either  gable  stood  a  carved  emblematic  figure. 
The  whole  edifice  was  275  feet  in  length  by  56  in  depth.  It  stood 
until  May,  1825,  when  it  was  superseded  by  the  House  of  Industry 
at  South  Boston,  and  the  land  sold  to  private  individuals,  A  brick 
wall  with  iron  gates  surrounded  the  alms-house  enclosure. 

It  has  always  been  the  fate  of  some  who  have  known  better  days 
to  become  dependants  upon  the  public  charity.  One  notable  in- 
stance is  mentioned  of  the  daughter  of  a  clergyman  of  the  French 
Protestant  church  having  sought  and  obtained  an  asylum  in  the  Old 
Almshouse.  She  continued  to  visit  and  be  received  into  the  houses 
of  her  former  friends,  who,  with  intuitive  delicacy,  forebore  to 
question  her  on  the  subject  of  her  residence. 

The  site  of  this  building  was  occupied  by  the  residence  of  no 
less  a  person  than  the  first  settler  of  Boston,  William  Blackstone. 
The  point  at  which  Cragie's  bridge  commences  is  called  on  the 
ancient  plans  of  the  town  Barton's  Point,  and  in  our  earliest  history 
it  is  spoken  of  as  Blackstone  Point.  The  whole  of  the  peninsula 
of  Boston  was  for  a  time  known  as  Blackstone  Neck. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 


343 


MYSTIC    KIVER    BRIDGE. 

This  important  work  was  commenced  in  April,  1787,  and  was 
opened  for  passengers  in  September  of  the  same  year.  It  cost 
about  £5300,  The  master  workmen  were  Messrs  Lemuel  Cox  and 
Jonathan  Thompson.  Two  strong  abutments  were  on  each  side 
of  the  river  about  300  feet  from  high  water  mark. 

The  bridge  stood  upon  one  hundred  piers,  each  composed  of  six 
sticks  of  oak  timber,  firmly  imbedded  in  the  bottom,  and  strength- 
ened by  two  solid  wharves,  The  length  of  the  bridge  was  2005 
feet,  exclusive  of  the  abutments ;  its  width  was  32  feet,  and  in  the 
deepest  water,  was  a  convenient  draw,  raised  by  a  purchase. 
There  was  a  neat  plain  railing  on  each  side  and  eight  lamps  for  the 
convenience  and  safety  of  passengers  at  night,  The  property 
was  vested  in  120  shares.  The  oflicers  of  the  corporation  were  a 
president,  two  vice  presidents,  six  directors,  a  treasurer,  a  clerk, 
ond  two  toll  gatherers.  The  right  of  possession  was  vested  in  the 
proprietors  and  their  assigns  forever,  with  a  proviso  that  at  the 
expiration  of  fifty  years  from  the  day  of  opening  the  bridge,  the 
Geneial  Court  may  alter  the  rate  of  toll,  which  was  established  as 
follows : 

Foot  passengers  -         l£d. 

Man  and  horse  -         4d. 

Horse  and  cart  -  6d. 

Team  drawn  by  more  than 

one  beast  9d. 

Horse  and  chaise  -         9d. 


Coaches,  chariots,  phaetons 
and  curricules  Is.  6d. 

Man  and  wheelbarrow         2jjd. 

Horse  and  neat  cattle,  not 
in  team  nor  rode  2d. 

Sheep  and  swine  §d. 


Double  toll  was  required  on  the  Sabbath  Day. 

This  view  reproduced  from  the  Massachusetts  Magazine  for  1790 
was  taken  from  the  heights  of  Bunker  Hill.  The  town  of  Med- 
ford,  seen  at  some  distance  with  its  surrounding  hills  and  the  Mys- 
tic river,  in  the  fore  ground,  offer  an  interesting  study  for  the 
antiquarian    mind. 


344  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

CHARLES  RIVER  BRIDGE. 

Boston,  being  entirely  separated  from  the  main  land,  except  by 
its  connection  by  means  of  the  Neck  on  the  south  side  of  the  town, 
it  was  thought  expedient,  as  early  as  1720,  to  build  a  bridge  and 
connect  the  north  side  with  the  main  land,  but  was  doubtless 
abandoned  on  account  of  the  large  amount  of  funds  its  construc- 
tion would  require.  In  1738,  the  subject  was  again  agitated,  but 
the  design  was  again  laid  aside,  probably  from  the  same  cause  as 
before,  and  it  was  not  until  June  17th,  1786,  that  the  bridge  was 
finally  built  and  opened  to  the  public.  The  engraving  and  follow- 
ing description  was  copied  from  the  Massachusetts  Magazine  for 
1789  :— 

The  exercises  attendant  were  witnessed  by  upwards  of  20,000 
people.  The  ceremonies  were  ushered  in  at  day  break  by  the  dis- 
charge ot  thirteen  cannon  from  Breed's  Hill,  Charlestown,  and 
from  Copp's  Hill,  Boston,  accompanied  by  the  ringing  of  the  bells 
of  Christ  church.  A  long  line  of  civic  and  military  bodies,  headed 
by  the  different  branches  of  the  legislature,  started  from  the  old 
State  House  as  a  salute  was  fired  from  the  "  Castle."  On  their 
arrival  at  the  bridge  the  procession  formed  two  lines  between  which 
the  president  of  the  bridge  company,  Thomas  Russell,  and  the 
other  individuals  forming  the  company  passed  on  to  the  centre  of 
the  structure,  and  orders  were  given  to  fasten  the  draw,  when  the 
procession  passed  over.  At  this  moment  the  thirteen  cannon  on 
Copp's  Hill  were  discharged,  amid  the  cheers  of  the  assemblage. 
As  the  company  ascended  Breed's  Hill  the  thirteen  cannon  there 
were  discharged.  Two  tables  of  320  feet  each,  united  at  the  end 
by  a  semicircular  one,  accommodating  800  persons,  were  located 
on  the  hill  where  "the  gentlemen,"  the  narrative  says,  "spent  the 
day  in  sober  festivity,  and  separated  at  6  o'clock." 

The  whole  fabric  was  completed  in  the  course  of  thirteen 
months.  All  emoluments  arising  from  toll  were  vested  for  40 
years  in  the  company  who  built  it—' '  Proprietors  of  Charles  River 
Bridge  " — who  began  and  finished  the  same  with  their  own  private 
means,  at  the  end  of  which  period,  the  bridge  was  to  become  the 
property  of  the  Commonwealth. 

The  length  of  this  structure  was  1503  feet.  The  abutment  at 
Charlestown,  from  the  old  landing,  was  100  feet ;  space  to  the  first 
pier,  16£  feet ;  36  piers  at  equal  distance  to  the  draw,  622J  feet ; 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  347 

width  of  the  draw,  30  feet ;  39  piers  at  equal  distance  from  the 
draw,  672  feet;  space  to  the  abutment  at  Boston,  16J  feet ;  abut- 
ment at  Boston  to  the  old  landing,  45£  feet.  The  75  piers  upon 
which  this  structure  stood  were  composed  of  seven  sticks  of  oak 
timber  united  by  a  cap  piece,  strong  braces  and  girts  and  driven 
into  the  bed  of  the  river,  and  secured  firmly  by  a  single  pile  on 
each  side.  The  bridge  was  42  feet  in  width,  a  foot  way  six  feet 
wide  and  railed  in  on  either  side.  The  bridge  had  a  gradual  rise 
to  the  centre  of  two  feet.  Forty  ' '  elegant "  lamps  were  erected 
at  suitable  distances.  At  the  longest  pier  it  was  forty-six  feet  to 
the  bed  of  the  river. 

The  fact  that  only  eleven  years  before  the  opening  of  this  bridge, 
to  a  day,  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  was  fought,  when  guns  were 
firing  at  each  other  from  Copp's  and  Breed's  hills,  where  they  were 
now  firing  salutes,  awakened  the  liveliest  emotions. 

OLD  SCOLLAY  BUILDING  AND  SQUARE. 

Of  all  the  great  changes  that  have  attended  the  progress  of 
Boston  during  the  past  few  years,  none  have  been  more  marked 
than  the  formation  of  "  Scollay  Square,"  by  the  removal  of  the 
last  of  the  long,  wedge-shaped  row  of  buildings,  familiarly  known 
for  more  than  half  a  century  to  Bostonians  as  "  Scollay's  Build- 
ings," the  last  of  which  was  removed  about  30  years  ago,  and 
which  have  existed  in  some  form  or  other  for  two  centuries.  These 
buildings  came  into  the  possession  of  William  Scollay,  in  about 
1800,  and  from  him  the  name  was  derived.  The  term  "Scollay's 
Building,"  arose  from  the  fact  that  the  horse  car  conductors,  in 
passing,  designated  the  locality  as  such,  and  soon,  by  "common 
fame,"  the  place  became  so  known.  This  row  of  wedge-shaped 
wooden  buildings  extended  from  the  head  of  Cornhill  to  nearly 
opposite  the  head  of  Hanover  street,  with  the  point  toward  the 
latter.  Both  ends  of  the  row  were  gradually  demolished  in  con- 
sequence of  the  crowded  condition  of  the  thoroughfares  on  either 
side,  leaving  only  the  brick  structure  of  Scollay  lately  removed. 
At  the  Hanover  street  end  of  the  buildings,  there  was  a  watch  box. 
until  within  fifty  years,  from  which  a  guardian  of  the  peace  kept 
a  watchful  eye.  Scollay's  building  was  supposed  to  have  been 
erected  by  Patrick  Jeffrey,  who  came  into  possession  in  1795. 

Green  &  Russell,  one  of  the  old  printing  houses  of  Boston, 
transacted  business  in  an  old  building  that  stood  on  the  site  of 


348  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

Scollay's,  in  1755.  Joseph  Eussell,  one  of  the  partners,  carried 
on  the  business  of  an  auctioneer,  in  which  he  was  very  successful, 
and  became  the  owner  of  the  property.  William  Vassal!,  a  royal- 
ist refugee,  in  1776,  was  the  next  proprietor,  followed  by  Jeffrey. 
The  Colonial  Custom-house  stood  very  near  this  locality  in  1757, 
but  its  exact  site  is  not  known. 

The  main  thoroughfares  on  either  side  of  the  Scollay  Buildings 
were  Tremont  Row  and  Court  street,  which,  by  the  removal  of  the 


OLD  SCOLLAY  BUILDING. 

buildings,  have  made  these  streets  one,  forming  a  large,  handsome 
square,  in  wbich  is  situated  an  ornamental  station  at  the  entrance 
to  the  subway. 

The  view  presented  of  the  "  Scollay  Buildings  "  was  made  from 
a  negative  taken  about  1865,  and  is  probably  the  only  picture  in 
existence  of  it. 

There  is  no  portion  of  Boston  that  presents  a  more  animated  or 
busy  appearance  than  the  Scollay  square  of  to-day. 


HW 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  351 

SMAJX-POX   CERTIFICATE. 

From  its  earliest  settlement  Boston  has  been  visited  at  frequent 
intervals  by  that  deadly  enemy  of  the  human  race,  small-pox.  The 
whites  communicated  it  to  the  Indians,  and  in  December,  1633, 
it  made  dreadful  ravages  among  them,  extending  eastward  to  the 
Pascataqua,  sweeping  almost  every  native  in  its  way.  Chickatau- 
bat,  Sagamore  John  and  James  died  of  it.  Mr.  Samuel  Maverick, 
of  Winesemet,  buried  about  thirty  in  one  day.  It  extended  as  far 
south  as  the  Pequots,  many  of  whom  died.  Among  the  great  na- 
tion of  the  Narragansetts  as  many  as  seven  hundred  died  of  it.  In 
1721,  Boston  was  visited  by  the  small-pox  with  greater  severity 


Boston,  euecfffjfc J"S  I776. 
"T-HESE  Certify,  that.  £a£f**nrV ' ftintfp&TA.     £&.? 

been  fo  fmoak'd  and  cleanfed  as  that  in  our  Opinion       he 
may  be  permitted  to  pafs  into  the  Country  without  Danger  of 
communicating  the  Small-Pox  to  any  one. 


than  at  any  other  time  before.  It  was  on  this  occasion  that  inocu- 
lation was  first  practised  by  D.  Zabdiel  Boylston,  who  stood  forth 
and  buffeted  a  storm  which  this  practice  called  forth,  the  violence 
of  which  is  hardly  conceivable  in  this  age.  In  1729  this  scourge 
again  visited  Boston.  It  was  brought  here  in  a  vessel  from  Ire- 
land. About  4,000  had  it,  of  which  about  500  died,  or  one  in 
every  eight  who  were  seized  with  it.  In  1752  a  ship  was  wrecked 
in  Kahant  bay  ;  the  crew  were  saved,  and  communicated  the  small- 


352  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

pox  to  the  people  on  shore.  5059  were  taken  with  the  disease,  of 
whom  452  died.  The  accompanying  fac-simile  of  a  certificate  of 
fumigation  serves  to  show  that  our  ancestors  took  such  precaution 
as  the  knowledge  of  the  time  allowed  them. 


THE   MASSACHUSETTS   MEDICAL    COLLEGE. 

This  engraving  was  reproduced  from  the  New  England  Journal 
of  Medicine  and  Surgery,  for  April,  1816.  The  building  is  still 
standing  on  Mason  street,  and  is  now  used  for  an  engine  house, 
the  old  front  facing  north.  The  following  account  from  the  above 
journal  describes  the  building  as  it  appeared  in  1816  :  "The  build- 
ing is  of  brick,  88  feet  in  length  and  43  in  its  greatest  breadth. 
Its  figure  is  oblong  with  a  pediment  in  front,  and  an  octagonal 
centre  rising  above  the  roof,  and  also  forming  a  three-sided  pro- 
jection in  the  rear  of  the  building.  This  is  surmounted  by  a  dome 
with  a  sky-light  and  a  ballustrade,  giving  an  appearance  of  ele- 
gance to  the  neatness  and  fit  proportion  of  the  building.  The 
apartments  on  the  first  floor  are  a  spacious  Medical  Lecture  room 
of  a  square  form,  with  ascending  semi-circular  seats ;  a  large 
Chemical  Lecture  room  in  the  centre,  of  an  octagonal  form,  with 
ascending  seats,  a  Chemical  Laboratory,  fitted  up  with  furnaces 
and  accommodation  for  the  costly  apparatus  used  in  the  lectures  ; 
and  a  room  to  be  occupied  by  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society. 
In  the  second  story  is  the  anatomical  theatre,  the  most  extensive 
room,  occupying  the  whole  central  part  of  the  building,  covered 
with  the  dome  and  sky-light,  with  semi-circular  seats  which  are 
entered  from  above  and  descend  regularly  towards  the  centre.  A 
large  and  small  room  for  practical  anatomy,  together  with  an- 
other for  the  museum,  occupy  the  extremities  of  the  same  story." 
There  then  follows  a  description  of  a  wonderful  stove,  invented 
by  Mr.  Jacob  Perkins,  for  burning  Rhode  Island  coal,  that  warms 
the  whole  building.  The  stove  which  is  situated  in  the  cellar  and 
surrounded  with  brick  chambers,  from  which  flues  conduct  rari- 
fied  heat  to  all  parts  of  the  building.  This  is  our  modern  furnace, 
and  is  one  of  the  first  accounts  written  of  it. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEW 8  OF  BOSTON.  357 

THE  OLD  COURT  HOUSE  AND  CITY  HALL. 

The  County  Court  House  here  shown  in  two  engravings  was 
built  in  1810  of  granite  aud  cost  $92,817,16.  The  main  building 
was  octagonal,  with  wings  at  each  side.  It  was  one  hundred  and 
forty  feet  long,  and  fifty-five  feet  wide  and  the  wings  were  26  by 
40  feet.  It  was  occupied  by  the  office  of  Probate,  Registry  of 
Deeds,  and  the  County  Courts.  This  building  was  early  known 
as  Johnson  Hall,  in  honor  of  Isaac  Johnson,  one  of  Boston's 
earliest  settlers.  Tradition  locates  his  house  on  the  site  of  the  old 
Court  House.  According  to  a  desire  expressed  on  his  death  bed, 
he  was  buried  at  the  south  west  corner  of  the  lot,  and  the  people 
exhibited  their  attachment  for  him  by  ordering  their  bodies  to  be 
buried  near  his.  The  lot  on  which  the  City  Hall  stands  was  sold 
to  the  town  in  1645. 

The  name  ' '  Johnson  Hall  "  does  not  seem  to  have  been  gener- 
ally adopted,  for  we  find  it  more  frequently  spoken  of  as  the 
"  Court  House."  The  engraving  of  "  Johnson  Hall,  Court 
Square,"  was  reproduced  by  the  Photo-Electrotype  Engraving 
process,  from  Snow's  Boston,  published  in  1825,  and  our  other 
view  of  the  Court  House,  was  reproduced  by  the  same  excellent 
process  from  the  Polyanthos,  a  magazine  published  in  Boston  in 
1813.  The  latter  view  although  published  at  an  earlier  date  is 
very  evidently  of  a  later  origin,  from  the  presence  of  the  other 
buildings.  The  cut  in  Snow's  Boston  was  probably  made  from 
an  old  drawing  or  engraving.  In  it,  at  the  left,  is  shown  the  old 
Columbian  Museum,  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  Mass- 
achusetts Historical  Society  building,  and  directly  in  front  of  the 
Museum  is  shown  the  old  Chapel  burial  ground. 

The  two  story  building  at  the  left,  in  the  Polyanthos  view,  was 
Barristers'  Hall,  and  the  small,  one  story  building  in  the  rear,  was 
in  the  day  of  the  volunteer  fire  department, ':  No.  7,  Tiger  Engine 
House."  This  was  the  "crack"  volunteer  company  of  Boston 
and  numbered  in  its  membership  some  of  Boston's  best  citizens. 
Barristers'  Hall  stood  on  the  site  of  the  Franklin  Statue  now  in 
front  of  the  City  Hall.  The  basement  of  the  low  building  at  the 
right  was  occupied  as  a  paint  shop.  Barristers'  Hall  was  built  by 
John  Lowell. 


358  ANTIQUE   VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

FEDERAL    STREET    THEATRE. 

The  Puritan  spirit  of  our  ancestors  was  transfused  into  the  firsl 
and  second  generations  which  succeeded  them,  and  nothing  like 
the  popular  amusements  of  our  day  was  countenanced  by  them. 
A  third  and  fourth  generation  became,  by  degrees,  a  little  more 
lax  in  manners  and  sentiments,  and  the  fifth  had  so  far  thrown  off 
restraint  as  to  look  upon  balls  and  assemblies  with  some  favor. 

The  first  attempt  to  establish  a  theatre  here  (1750)  was  followed 
by  a  law  of  the  Province,  prohibiting  them  under  penalties.  Dur- 
ing the  siege,  the  British  officers  entertained  themselves  with 
amusements  of  a  theatrical  character.  From  that  time  no  trace 
of  anything  of  the  sort  is  found  until  1789,  when  the  newspapers 
contain  intimations  of  a  design  to  establish  one.  While  the  pro- 
hibitory law  remained  in  force  it  was  unsafe  to  proceed  openly, 
and  an  effort  was  made  to  repeal  the  act  in  1792,  which  failed,  and 
the  expedient  of  exhibiting  plays  under  the  guise  of  Moral  Lect- 
ures, was  adopted  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  A  majority  of  the  town 
had  favored  the  petition  for  the  repeal  of  the  prohibitory  laws, 
"  as  unconstitutional,  inexpedient  and  absurd."  The  patronage  of 
the  great  moral  show  was  so  liberal,  that  the  plan  of  building  the 
Boston  Theatre  was  soon  carried  into  effect  at  the  north-west  cor- 
ner of  Franklin  and  Federal  streets,  its  site  now  being  occupied 
by  Jones,  McDuffee  &  Stratton.  It  was  opened  February  3,  1794, 
with  the  tragedy  of  Gnstavus  Vasa.  The  first  manager  was  Charles 
Stuart  Powell.  It  was  commonly  known  as  the  Federal  Street 
Theatre,  and  for  some  time  as  the  Old  Drury,  after  Drury  Lane, 
London.  In  1798,  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  leaving  only  the  brick 
walls  standing.  It  was  soon  rebuilt,  however,  and  was  opened  in 
October  of  the  same  year.  In  1800  the  celebrated  Mrs.  Jones 
appeared  here.  Kean,  Macready  and  the  gifted  Mrs.  Eawson 
graced  its  stage  at  different  times.  On  Kean's  first  appearance 
here  in  1817  he  met  with  a  flattering  recejation,  but  on  his  second 
engagement  in  1825,  having  refused  to  play  to  a  thin  house,  he 
was  driven  from  the  stage  amid  jeers  and  a  shower  of  projectiles. 
Henry  J.  Finn,  then  one  of  the  managers,  vainly  endeavored  to 
obtain  a  hearing  for  the  tragedian,  who  stood  before  the  audience 
in  the  most  abject  manner,  a  picture  of  rage  and  humiliation.  A 
riotous  crowd  obtained  admittance  to  the  house  and  destroyed  what 
they  could  of  the  interior.  The  discomfited  Kean  was  compelled 
to  seek  safety  in  flight. 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  361 

About  1833  it  was  closed  as  a  theatre  and  leased  to  the  society 
of  Free  Inquirers.  In  1834  the  '"  Academy  of  Music  "  obtained 
possession,  and  the  name  was  changed  to  the  "  Odeon."  Relig- 
ious  services  were  held  on  Sundays,  by  Rev.  "William  M.  Rogers' 
society,  until  the  building  of  their  church  on  Winter  street.  The 
stage  was  again  cleared  for  theatrical  performances  in  1846-7. 
Lafayette  visited  the  Boston  Theatre  on  the  last  evening  of  his 
stay  in  1824.  An  entire  new  front  was  erected  on  Federal  street, 
in  1826,  and  an  elegant  saloon  added  with  many  interior  improve- 
ments. About  1852  the  theatre  property  was  sold  and  a  business 
structure  erected,  which  was  destroyed  in  the  great  fire  of  Novem- 
ber 9th,  1872,  but  which  has  since  been  rebuilt. 

Charles  Bulfinch,  famous  as  the  architect  of  our  State  House, 
National  Capitol  and  other  public  buildings,  was  the  designer  of 
the  Boston  Theatre.  It  was  built  of  brick,  was  one  hundred  and 
forty  feet  long,  sixty-one  feet  wide  and  forty  feet  high.  An  arcade 
projected  from  the  front  serving  as  a  carriage  entrance.  The 
house  had  the  appearance  of  two  stories ;  both  the  upper  and  lower 
were  arched,  with  square  windows,  those  of  the  second  story  being 
more  lofty.  Corinthian  pilasters  and  columns  decorated  front  and 
rear.  Several  independent  outlets  afforded  ready  egress.  The 
main  entrance  was  in  front,  where  alighting  under  cover  from  their 
carriages,  the  company  passed  through  an  open  saloon  to  the  stair- 
cases leading  to  corridors  at  the  back  of  the  boxes.  The  pit  and 
gallery  were  entered  from  the  sides.  The  interior  was  circular  in 
form,  the  ceiling  being  composed  of  elliptical  arches  resting  on 
Corinthian  columns.  There  were  "three  rows  of  boxes,  the  second 
suspended  by  invisible  means.  The  stage  was  flanked  by  two 
columns,  and  across  the  opening  were  thrown  a  cornice  and  balus- 
trade ;  over  this  were  painted  the  arms  of  the  United  States  and 
Massachusetts,  blended  with  historic  emblems.  From  the  arms 
depended  the  motto,  "  All  the  World's  a  Stage." 

The  walls  were  painted  azure,  and  the  columns,  front  of  the 
boxes,  etc.,  straw  and  lilac  color ;  the  balustrade,  mouldings,  etc., 
were  gilt,  and  the  second  tier  of  boxes  were  hung  with  crimson 
silk.  There  was  also  a  beautiful  and  spacious  ball-room  at  the 
east  end,  handsomely  decorated,  with  small  retiring  rooms.  A 
cuisine,  well  furnished,  was  beneath.  Such  was  the  first  play- 
house Boston  ever  had.  The  accompanying  engraving  was  repro- 
duced from  Snow's  Boston,  1825. 


362  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

QUINCY   MARKET. 

Quincy,  or  Faneuil  Hall,  Market  was  begun  in  1824,  the  cornet 
stone  laid  in  1825,  and  was  finished  in  November,  1826.  North 
and  South  Market  streets  were  laid  out  at  the  same  time  and  are 
respectively  sixty-five  and  one  hundred  and  two  feet  wide.  The 
difference  in  the  width  of  these  streets,  and  in  fact  the  position  of 
the  market  itself,  is  due  to  the  refusal  of  the  heirs  of  Nathan  Spear 
to  part  with  their  estate  an  any  terms.  By  increasing  the  width 
of  South  Market  street,  the  difficulty  was  overcome  and  the  city 
took  the  estate  with  a  clear  legal  conscience.  Codman's,  Spear's, 
Bray's  and  the  wharves,  extending  between  North  Market  and  State 
streets  towards  the  present  line  of  Commercial  street,  were  re- 
claimed in  this  great  improvement,  and  Chatham  street  was  laid  out. 

As  soon  as  North  and  South  Market  streets  were  laid  out  build- 
ing lots  on  both  were  sold  with  the  stipulation  that  a  substantial 
brick  store  of  four  stories,  with  stone  front,  conformably  to  a  plan 
and  specifications  of  particulars,  should  be  built  thereon,  on  or 
before  the  first  of  July,  1825,  which  accounts  for  the  present  row 
of  fine  stores  now  bordering  on  those  streets.  Each  row,  or  block, 
measured  530  feet  in  length. 

This  improvement  by  Josiah  Quincy  was  the  greatest  enterprise 
of  the  kind  ever  undertaken  in  Boston.  Although  not  an  imme- 
diate pecuniary  success,  it  soon  became  so,  and  is  a  monument  to 
Mr.  Quincy's  genius  and  perseverance. 

Mr.  Quincy,  in  his  History  of  Boston,  says  of  this  enterprise ; 
"  A  granite  market  house,  two  stories  high,  535  feet  long,  cover- 
ing 27,000  feet  of  land,  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $150,000.  Six 
new  streets  were  opened,  and  a  seventh  greatly  enlarged,  including 
167,000  feet  of  land,  and  flats,  docks  and  wharf  rights  obtained  to 
the  extent  of  142,000  square  feet.  All  this  was  accomplished  in 
the  centre  of  a  populous  city,  not  only  without  any  tax,  debt  or 
burden  upon  its  pecuniary  resources,  but  with  large  permanent  ad- 
ditions to  its  real  and  productive  property." 

Our  engraving  was  reproduced  by  the  Photo-Electrotype  En- 
graving Process  from  Snow's  History  of  Boston,  published  1825, 
which  shows  the  water  front  within,  probably,  seventy-five  feet  of 
the  market,  where  now  (1882)  there  is  a  thousand  feet  by  actual 
measurement  to  the  water  on  Atlantic  avenue,  from  which  there 
project  wharves  fully  another  thousand  feet. 


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BOSTON, 

> 

Plymouth  $  Sandwich 
MAIL  STAGE, 

CONTINUES  TO  RUN  AS  FOLLOWS : 

LEAVES  Boston  every  Tuesday,  Thursday,  and  Saturday  mornings 
at  5  o'clock,  breakfast  at  Leonard's,  Scituate  ;  dine  at  Bradford's,  Plymouth ; 
and  arrive  in  Sandwich  the  same  evening.  Leaves  Sandwich  every  Mon- 
day, Wednesday  and  Friday  mornings ;  breakfast  at  Bradford's,  Plymouth; 
dine  at  Leonard's,  Scituate,  and  arrive  in  Boston  the  same  evening. 

Passing  through  Dorchester,  Quincy,  Wyemouth,  Hingham,  Scituate, 
Hanover,  Pembroke,  Duxbury,  Kingston,  Plymouth  to  Sandwich.  Fare, 
from  Boston  to  Scituate,  1  doll.  25  cts.  From  Boston  to  Plymouth,  2  dolls. 
50  ct£.     From  Boston  to  Sandwich,  3  dolls.  63  cts. 

Nv  B.  Extra  Carriages  can  be  obtained  of  the  proprietor's,  at  Boston  and  Plymouth,  at  short  notice. — 
f3"STAGE  BOOKS  kept  at  Boyden's  Market-square,  Boston,  and  at  Fessendon's,  Plymouth. 


LEONARD  &  WOODWARD. 


BOSTON,  November  24,  1810. 


[Reproduced  from  a  print  in  possession  of  the  Bostonian  Society.] 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  365 

THE   FIRST   RAILROADS   OP   BOSTON. 

The  steam  railroads  were  introduced  into  Boston  at  a  time  when 
its  commercial  interests  were  suffering,  and  the  citizens  were 
alarmed  for  her  future  as  a  commercial  center.  Up  to  the  time 
of  the  Revolution  Boston  was  the  first  town  in  the  country  in 
point  of  commercial  importance,  population  and  influence.  New 
York,  with  her  great  canal  enterprises,  and  her  steamers  making 
daily  voyages  to  Providence,  New  Haven,  the  Connecticut  river, 
and  to  ports  on  the  Hudson  and  Long  Island  Sound,  rapidly  out- 
stripped Boston  in  the  race.  When  the  practicability  of  the  rail- 
road was  discovered  and  demonstrated  in  England,  its  introduction 
into  Massachusetts  was  promptly  urged  and  pressed  by  the  citizens 
of  Boston,  as  the  solution  of  the  problem  by  which  successful 
competition  with  New  York  and  the  enlargement  of  the  business 
and  trade  of  the  city  could  be  best  secured.  The  men  of  capital, 
however,  were  slow  to  recognize  its  advantages,  but  once  firmly 
established,  the  great  advantage  of  the  railroad  over  the  canal  and 
other  modes  of  travel  of  that  day  was  recognized  by  all. 

The  Lowell  was  the  first  organized  of  the  Boston  steam  rail- 
roads, as  well  as  the  first  upon  which  the  work  of  construction  was 
actually  begun  ;  close  behind  it  followed  the  Worcester  and  Prov- 
idence. In  those  days,  however,  when  everything  connected  with 
construction  had  to  be  learned  as  the  work  went  on,  the  progress 
was  not  rapid.  The  only  actual  experience  of  any  real  value  to 
be  obtained  was  that  of  the  Manchester  and  Liverpool  road  in 
England.  These  roads  were  built  by  engineers  that  had  never 
seen  the  English  works.  Twelve  miles  a  year  was  considered 
rapid  construction.  Such  distrust  at  these  undertakings  was  felt 
that  in  January,  1833,  Mr.  Francis  Stanton  obtained  the  signatures 
of  the  holders  of  one  thousand  shares  of  the  stock  of  the  Boston 
and  Worcester  railroad  to  call  a  stockholder's  meeting  to  consider 
the  question  of  stopping  the  work  and  abandoning  the  enterprise. 
At  last,  however,  in  the  spring  of  1835,  all  the  three  lines  ap- 
proached completion  at  about  the  same  time. 

The  first  locomotive  set  in  motion  in  Massachusetts  was  en  the 
Boston  and  Worcester  tracks,  in  the  latter  part  of  March,  1834. 
Rails  were  then  laid  as  faf  as  Newton,  and  the  company  delayed 
opening  this  section  of  the  road  to  travel,  only  because  it  was 
compelled  to  wait  the  arrival  of  an  engine  driver  from  England  to 
take  charge  of  the  English-built  locomotive.     At  last,  on  April 


366  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

4th,  a  locomotive  was  actually  put  to  work  on  a  gravel  tram,  aud 
three  days  later,  on  the  7th,  a  party  of  the  directors  and  their 
friends  went  on  a  trial  trip  as  far  as  Davis'  tavern  in  Newton.  On 
the  12th  of  May  there  appeared  in  the  "Daily  Advertiser"  and 
1 '  Patriot "  the  following  new  form  of  notice  : — 

BOSTON  AND  WORCESTER  RAIt  ROAD. 


THE  Passenger  Cars  will  conlinue  to  run  daily  from  the 
Depot  near  Washington  street,  to  Newton,  at  6  and 
10  o'clock,  A.M.  and  at  3^  o'clock,  P.  M.  and 

Returning,  leave  Newton  at  7  and  a  quarter  past  II,  A.M. 
and  a  quarter  before  5,  P.M. 

Tickets  for.  tho  passage  either  way  may  be  had  at  the 
Ticket  Office,  No. 617,  Washington  street ;  price  37£  ccms 
each  ;  and  lor  the  return  passage,  of  the  Master  of  the  Cars, 
Newton. 

By  order  of  the  President  and  Direciore. 

a  29  epislf  F.  A.  WILLIAMS,  Clerk. 

The  regular  passenger  service  began  four  days  later,  May  16th, 
1834.  It  consisted  of  the  six  trains  specified  in  the  advertise- 
ment. Thirty-five  years  later  it  was  stated  that  the  increase  of 
travel  was  such  that  two  passenger  trains,  carrying  on  an  average 
three  hundred  persons,  entered  or  left  the  city  every  five  minutes 
of  the  fourteen  active  working  hours  each  day. 

The  Boston  and  Worcester  depot  was  located  at  first  near  what 
is  now  known  as  "  Indiana  Place,"  between  Washington  and  Tre- 
morit  streets.  Mr.  Harnden,  the  originator  of  the  express  business, 
was  the  first  ticket  master  at  this  station. 

The  Worcester  railroad  was  opened  to  West  Newton  April  16th, 

1834,  and  through  to  Worcester  July  3rd,  1835.  Boston  and 
Lowell  was  opened  June,  1834,  and  through  to  Lowell  June  24th, 

1835.  Boston  and  Providence  was  opened  June  4th,  1834,  and 
through  to  Providence  August,  1835.  The  Maine  was  opened 
from  Wilmington  to  Andover  in  1836  ;  to  South  Berwick,  1843. 
The  Eastern  comes  next,  in  1838,  in  which  year  it  was  opened  to 
Salem  ;  George  Peabody  was  the  first  president.  The  Old  Colon j 
began  operating  in  November,  1845,  the  Fitchburg  in  1845,  and 


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ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  369 

the  New  York  and  New  England  in  1849,  under  the  name  of  the 
Norfolk  County  road.  It  is  a  curious  fact  that  every  one  of  the 
eight  railway  stations  in  Boston  stands  on  ground  reclaimed  from 
the  sea. 

WORCESTER  AND    PROVIDENCE    RAILROADS    CROSSING    THE    MARSHES 
OF   THE   BACK   BAY,  1840. 

The  engraving  shown  here  is  a  reproduction  of  the  frontispiece 
of  Barber's  Historical  Collections,  and  shows  the  appearance  of 
Boston  as  seen  from  the  south-west,  near  the  intersection  of  the 
Providence  and  Worcester  railroad  crossing.  This  engraving  is 
considered  especially  valuable,  as  showing  the  great  changes  that 
have  taken  place  in  the  Back  Bay  district  during  the  past  forty 
years.  Nearly  the  whole  bay  was  filled  with  gravel  brought  by 
these  railroads.  On  this  reclaimed  land  are  now  built  the  best 
residences  in  Boston,  second  to  none  in  the  country. 

EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  BOSTON  FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

In  all  histoiy  we  find  graphic  descriptions  of  the  ravages  of  fire. 
Human  life  has  not  been  exempt  from  its  destructive  power.  The 
splendid  mansions  of  the  rich  and  the  humble  domicile  of  the 
poor  are  all  subject  to  its  fury.  The  town  of  Boston  has  been  the 
frequent  scene  of  its  terrifying  operations.  The  first  fire  of  any 
record  occurred  in  March,  1631.  Mr.  Thomas  Sharp's  house 
caught  fire  and  was  destroyed,  also  the  house  of  Deacon  Colburn. 
The  next  fire  burned  the  house  of  Wm.  Cheesborough,  in  1653. 
March  14th,  1653,  the  selectmen  voted  to  provide  forthwith  "six 
good  Long  Ladders  for  ye  town's  use,  to  be  hung  on  ye  outside  of 
ye  meeting-houses  and  branded  with  ye  town's  mark."  It  was  also 
ordered  that  every  householder  "shall  provide  a  pole  12  feet  long 
and  a  swab  on  ye  end  to  reach  ye  top  of  his  house  in  case  of  fire." 
In  1653,  another  fire  occurred  which  destroyed  several  buildings 
in  the  heart  of  the  town.  Nov.  2,  1676,  the  town  was  thrown 
into  great  consternation  by  a  fire  which  broke  out  in  Mr.  Wake- 
field's house,  which  was  consumed  with  46  dwelling  houses  and 
the  North  Meeting-house  in  Clark  (now  North)  square.  Many 
instances  are  recorded  of  fines  for  not  having  a  pole  and  swab. 

Jan.  27th,  1679,  the  town  received  the  first  fire  engine  from 
England,  and  the  selectmen  passed  the  following  order  in  regard 
to  it :  "In  case  of  fire  in  ye  town  Thomas  Atkins  is  desired  and 


370  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

doth  engage  to  take  care  of  ye  managing  of  ye  s'd  Ingine  in  ye 
work  intended  and  secure  it  from  damage,  and  hath  made  choice 
of  12  men  to  assist  in  ye  work."  This  engine  was  located  in 
Queen  (now  Court)  street.  It  was  brought  into  service  Aug.  8th, 
1G79,  at  a  fire  which  raged  until  noon  of  the  9th,  destroying  170 
buildings  and  several  vessels.  The  loss  was  very  heavy.  In 
1683,  a  fire  destroyed  a  large  number  of  buildings  on  the  south 
side  of  the  draw-bridge  near  the  dock.  A  great  fire  occurred  on 
March  11th,  1702.  The  loss  was  immense.  "Ye  Ingine  could 
do  but  little  to  oppose  its  progress.  Henry  Deering  was  this 
year  appointed  master  of  the  Ingine,  and  ordered  with  his  men  to 
meet  at  the  Ingine  House  on  the  last  Monday  of  every  month,  at 
3  of  the  clock,  to  exercise  themselves  in  the  use  of  said  Ingine." 
In  1703,  a  pump  was  placed  at  the  dock  to  be  used  in  case  of  fire. 

In  1707,  two  engines  were  imported.  One  was  placed  at  the 
North  End,  the  other  at  the  dock.  On  Feb.  28,  1709,  the  follow- 
ing vote  was  passed:  "Whereas,  the  Water  Engines  being  the 
goods  and  chattels  of  the  town  and  under  the  care  and  direction 
thereof,  who  are  now  informed  that  Mr.  Sheriff  Dyer,  without  the 
knowledge  of  ye  selectmen,  hath  appointed  masters  to  the  several 
Engines, — Ordered  that  said  masters  be  forthwith  dismist  and  ye 
selectmen  appoint  suitable  persons  to  attend  thereunto." 

Oct.  1,  1711,  an  extensive  fire  began  in  Williams  Court,  which 
demolished  all  the  houses  from  School  street  to  Cornhill  and  Dock 
Square.  It  burned  the  First  Church,  where  Rogers  Building  now 
stands.  The  three  engines  were  incessantly  at  work  during  the 
fire.  On  Jan.  1,  1712,  Mr.  James  Pearson  was  appointed  over- 
seer of  the  "  Persons  Listed  to  attend  ye  Water  Engines,  and  all 
Persons  were  ordered  to  attend  to  his  directions  in  ye  manage- 
ment of  ye  Engines,"  and  the  following  month  John  Ballentine, 
Timothy  Clark,  John  Greenough,  Thomas  Lee,  Wm.  Lander, 
Edward  Winslow,  Edward  Martin,  Stephen  Minot,  Samuel  Green- 
wood and  John  Pollard  were  appointed  to  be  Fire  Wards  for  and 
within  the  town.  This  was  the  first  Board  of  Fire  Wards.  They 
were  men  of  high  standing,  and,  seeing  the  importance  of  substi- 
tuting engines  for  the  pail  and  swab,  recommended  the  purchase 
of  three  more,  which  the  town  voted  to  do  on  Nov.  14th,  1714. 
They  arrived  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1715.  One  was  placed 
at  the  side  of  the  Old  North  Meeting-house,  another  at  the  Town 
House,  and  the  third  in  Summer  street.    The  following  order  was 


Q 
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5d 

H 

O 

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2! 
W 

2S 
O 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  373 

given  to  the  masters  of  engines  and  renewed  each  year  until  1750  : 

"  Ordered  that  Mr. have  ye  charge  of  ye  Water  Engine  at 

and  is  allowed  12  men,  and  in  case  he  should  want  to  put 

out  or  take  in  any  man  he  shall  give  an  account  to  ye  selectmen 
and  have  their  order  for  so  doing."  In  1736,  Mr.  B.  Sutton  noti- 
fied the  selectmen  that  his  engine  wanted  a  new  hose.  This  is  the 
first  mention  of  hose  upon  the  town  records.  In  1740,  the  fire- 
men were  released  from  jury  duty.  About  this  time  another 
engine  was  brought  over  from  England.  In  1747,  a  small  copper 
engine  was  taken  out  of  a  Dutch  ship  wrecked  on  the  coast. 

Faneuil  Hall  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1761.  The  most  of  the 
buildings  in  Williams  Court  were  again  burned  in  1763.  Twenty 
houses  were  burned  near  the  Mill  Creek  in  1767.  Salem  Street 
Meeting-house  was  burned  in  1773.  The  Jail  in  Court  street  was 
burned  in  1769.  In  1775,  the  engines  were  placed  under  guard 
by  the  British  General.  In  1794,  the  square  between  Pearl,  Milk, 
Atkinson  and  Purchase  streets  was  laid  in  ashes.  Ninety-six 
buildings  were  destroyed.     The  loss  was  over  §200,000. 

The  engines,  until  the  year  1798,  were  designated  by  their 
place  of  deposit,  or  by  their  master's  names.  The  selectmen 
numbered  them  arbitrarily,  beginning  at  the  North  End. 

No.  1  was  imported  in  the  year  1707. 

No.  2  was  given  to  the  town  by  Gov.  Hutchinson. 

No.  3  imported  in  1715.     No.  4  in  1707.     No.  5  in  1715. 

No.  6  in  1740.     No.  7  in  1679. 

No.  8  was  taken  out  of  a  Dutch  ship  wrecked  on  the  coast,  1747. 

No.  9  imported  in  1715.     No.  10  in  1772. 

No.  11  in  1776.     No.  12  in  1796. 

The  members  of  No.  7  of  to-day  (1882)  are  the  lineal  descend- 
ants of  the  first  company  organized  in  the  country,  and  attached 
to  the  engine  imported  in  the  year  1679,  and  numbered  7  in  1798. 
The  following  are  the  names  of  the  captains  of  this  company  from 
1679  to  1882,  for  a  period  of  over  200  years  : — Thomas  Atkins, 
Ealph  Carter,  Henry  Deering,  William  Young,  Bartholomue  Sut- 
ton, Stephen  Willis,  John  Blowers,  Gersham  Flagg,  William  Sut- 
ton, Joel  Cushing,  Edmond  Ranger,  Oliver  Wiswell,  Robert  New, 
Jonathan  Heath,  Eben  White,  Seth  Copeland,  James  Pierce,  James 
Weld,  I.  Amary  Davis,  W.  H.  Tileston,  W.  G.  Eaton,  W.  B. 
Swift,  J.  H.  Blake,  Thomas  Williams,  P.  W.  Hayward,  Thomas 
Cassady,  Jonathan  Hager,  W.  S.  Damrell,  T.  P.  Foster,  J.  C. 


3/4  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

Bartlett,  Lewis  Beck,  John  Ball,  C.  C.  McClennon,  S.  B.  Ken- 
dall, Josiah  Snelling,  W.  C.  Savage,  D.  L.  M.  Dwinell,  C.  C. 
Henry,  Thomas  Whipple,  M.  C.  Thompson,  J.  Q.  Alley,  A.  A. 
J.  Bartlett,  G.  L.  Imbert,  John  Winniatt,  D.  T.  Marden. 

The  first  fire  engine  made  in  Boston  was  built  by  David  Wheeler, 
a  blacksmith  in  Newbury  (now  Washington)  street.  It  was  tried 
at  a  fire  August  21,  1765,  and  found  to  perform  extremely  well. 

Tiger  engine  No.  7,  shown  in  our  engraving,  was  built  by  Bisbee 
&  Edwards  of  Boston,  in  1835,  and  is  reproduced  from  one  of  the 
earliest  lithographs  made  in  this  city. 

THE    OLD    STATE    HOUSE    FIRE. 

This  engraving  is  a  reproduction  from  a  plate  made  by  Pendle- 
ton about  1835.  The  plate  is  still  used  by  the  Boston  Fire  De- 
partment for  the  purpose  of  printing  certificates,  diplomas,  etc. 
The  events  connected  with  the  fire  are  thus  graphically  described 
in  the  Daily  Advertiser  and  Patriot,  and  also  in  the  Columbia 
Centinel,  of  November  22,  1832  :  "We  are  informed  of  a  serious 
fire  occurring  on  the  previous  day,  in  the  building  numbered  14 
and  16  State  street,  during  which  a  canister  of  gunpowder  ex- 
ploded and  injured  several  persons.  At  about  6  o'clock  the  Chief 
Engineer  called  upon  engine  company  No.  7  to  play  once  more 
upon  the  timbers  which  had  rekindled,  and  while  thus  employed, 
some  of  the  members  gave  the  word  to  turn  the  pipe  upon  the 
City  Hall  (Old  State  House) ,  on  the  northern  roof  of  which,  under 
the  sill  of  one  of  the  Lutheran  windows  in  the  Land  Commission- 
er's office,  the  corner  of  which  rested  against  a  chimney,  a  smoke 
and  small  flame  was  seen.  The  pipe  could  not  be  turned  there, 
but  was  lowered  down  and  the  ladder  shifted  to  City  Hall.  In  the 
mean  time,  No.  11  had  arrived  on  the  ground  and  commenced 
playing.  The  fire  was  supposed  to  be  only  about  the  Commis- 
sioner's room,  and  to  be  extinguished,  when  the  Engineers  ascer- 
tained that  the  interior  of  the  roof  nearly  through  the  whole 
extent,  between  the  ceiling  of  the  upper  rooms  and  the  tower, 
between  the  circular  staircase  and  the  interior,  was  in  flames. 
The  alarm  was  then  given  and  the  Department  again  called  to- 
gether, and  after  nearly  three  hours  indefatigable  labor  the  flames 
were  arrested,  after  destroying  the  interior  of  the  roof,  excepting 
the  largest  timbers,  and  after  insiduously  working  their  way  even 


THE    OLD    STATE    HOUSE    FIRE. 


ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON.  377 

to  the  ball  which  supports  the  vane.  The  fire  was  fought  step  by 
step  by  the  firemen,  whose  duty  was  exceedingly  irksome  and 
laborious,  but  they  kept  to  their  posts  and  worked  like  men. 
Some  of  them  performed  daring  feats  in  their  anxiety  to  save  the 
property  of  their  fellow  citizens." 

The  fireman  seen  on  the  dome  is  Charles  H.  Porter,  and  the  one 
on  the  south-east  corner  of  the  building  is  Charles  Stearns.  Both 
are  now  living  (1882)  and  remember  the  events  connected  with 
the  fire  quite  distinctly. 

Before  the  introduction  of  the  steam  fire  engine,  much  rivalry 
existed  between  the  different  fire  companies,  which  often  resulted 
in  serious  trouble.  Broad  street  was  the  scene  of  a  great  riot 
between  the  firemen  and  the  Irish  of  which  we  give  the  following 
description  : — 

THE  GREAT  EIOT  EST  BROAD  STREET,  BOSTON. 

On  June  10th,  1837,  there  had  been  a  large  fire  at  Roxbury, 
from  which  No.  20  had  returned  and  housed  their  engine.  Some 
of  the  members  had  gone  home,  while  others  remained  to  see  an 
Irish  funeral  procession  pass.  One  of  the  members,  who  stood 
upon  the  pavement,  was  rudely  pushed  back  upon  the  sidewalk 
by  an  Irishman,  with  the  remark,  "he  had  no  business  in  the 
street."  This  was  the  origin  of  the  riot.  Some  high  words  im- 
mediately ensued  between  the  parties,  and  blows  followed  in  quick 
succession ;  the  firemen  gathered  around  their  comrade ;  the  Irish 
rushed  to  the  assistance  of  their  friends.  The  firemen  were  at 
first  driven  back  to  the  engine  house,  when  they  again  rallied  and 
drove  the  Irish  back  to  Sea  street.  The  Irish  immediately  began 
to  gather  in  large  numbers,  and  making  a  rush  upon  the  firemen 
drove  them  back  to  their  engine  house  and  also  from  the  engine 
house,  taking  the  engine  out  into  the  street,  where  they  upset  it. 

The  Irish  then  formed  their  funeral  procession,  while  the  fire- 
men rallied  their  comrades,  and,  being  joined  by  the  members  of 
No.  8,  they  returned  to  the  conflict.  The  Irish  then  rushed  to 
Robbins'  wood-wharf  and  armed  themselves  with  sticks  of  wood 
and  lumps  of  coal,  which  they  plied  with  some  success.  The 
news  of  the  riot  had  now  spread  all  over  the  city,  and  the  firemen 
were  hastening  from  all  points  to  the  assistance  of  their  comrades. 
The  Irish  in  the  mean  time  had  gained  strength,  and  the  excite- 
ment of  the  firemen  was  almost  without  bounds.     The  Irish  were 


378  ANTIQUE  VIEWS  OF  BOSTON. 

driven  from  the  wharf,  when  a  large  body  of  them  made  a  stand 
upon  the  open  ground  on  the  top  of  Fort  Hill,  where  they  hurled 
brickbats,  stones  and  pieces  of  coal  at  the  firemen  for  half  an  hour 
with  great  energy.  A  large  body  of  firemen  rushed  upon  them 
and  drove  them  from  this  strong  position  into  Broad  street.  The 
fight,  which  had  become  general,  was  kept  up  until  seven  o'clock 
in  the  evening,  without  intermission. 

The  ranks  of  the  Irish  were  gradually  thinned  by  the  arrest  of 
some  of  their  prominent  members,  who  were  carried  off  to  jail 
amid  loud  shouts  and  yells.  Finally,  the  Irish  gave  up  the  con- 
test, just  in  time  to  save  themselves  from  the  bayonets  of  the  mil- 
itary, several  companies  of  which  were  ordered  to  the  scene  of 
strife. 

GREAT    FIRE    IN    BOSTON. 

During  the  early  part  of  the  evening  of  Nov.  9th,  1872,  a  fearful 
fire  broke  out  at  the  corner  of  Summer  and  Kingston  streets,  which 
proved  to  be  one  of  the  most  disastrous  fires  that  ever  occurred  in 
this  city  or  on  this  continent.  The  flames  spread  with  great  rapid- 
ity, completely  baffling  all  efforts  to  subdue  them  on  the  part  of 
the  firemen,  and  continued  their  course  north  and  north-east  into 
the  most  substantial  buildings  in  the  business  districts,  a  large  pro- 
portion of  which  were  of  solid  granite,  being  used  for  the  whole- 
sale business.  Aid  was  summoned  far  and  wide,  and  special  trains 
bearing  fire  engines  from  distant  cities  were  soon  on  hand.  Build- 
ings were  blown  up,  the  gas  cut  off,  leaving  the  panic-stricken  city 
almost  in  darkness.  The  militia  were  ordered  out  to  aid  the  police 
in  preventing  robbery  and  unbounded  lawlessness  that  seemed  at 
one  time  to  be  beyond  control,  adding  much  to  the  excitement  and 
terrors  of  the  time.  When  at  last  the  fire  was  subdued,  it  was 
found  that  an  area  of  over  63  acres  had  been  burned,  and  property 
destroyed  to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  millions  of  dollars,  and 
many  lives  lost,  leaving  a  smoking  chaos  of  ruins,  bounded  by 
Summer,  Washington,  Milk  and  Broad  streets.  Although  this 
calamity  was  a  fearful  blow  to  the  business  interests  of  Boston, 
entailing  any  amount  of  misery  and  distress,  it  however  soon 
recovered  from  the  shock,  and  with  its  usual  pluck,  refusing  all 
proffered  outside  aid,  has  now  covered  the  burnt  district  with 
some  of  the  most  imposing  and  substantial  business  warehouses, 
which  are  an  ornament  to  the  city. 


TRINITY  CHURCH 


BOSTON,   HARTFORD  4t  ERIE  R.R     OEPOT. 


View  of  the  Ruins  after  the  GREAT  FIRE  in  Boston,  from  a  point  opposite  Trinity  Church,  Summer  St. 


From  Photograph  by  J,  W.  BLACK. 


DATE  DUE 

UNIVERSITY  PRODUCTS,  INC.    #859-5503 

BOSTON  COLLEGE 


3   9031    025   43573   6 


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